Trump to host Gulf Leaders Summit during Saudi Arabia visit, reports Axios

This is according to Axios who based the report from a US official and two Arab officials.

The summit, planned for the morning of May 14, will take place during Trump’s multi-day tour of the region, which begins with his arrival in Riyadh on May 13. The meetings aim to deepen economic cooperation and strategic ties between the United States and Gulf nations, Axios reported.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is expected to extend invitations to all six GCC member states - the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia - though no other Arab nations have been invited so far, according to an Arab official.

"The summit will be an opportunity for Trump to outline his Middle East vision and U.S. policy objectives," Axios quoted one US official as saying.

Following the summit in Riyadh, Trump is scheduled to visit Doha for talks with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim al-Thani, before traveling to Abu Dhabi on May 15 to meet UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed.

The White House said full details of the trip would be announced soon. The Saudi embassy in Washington has declined to comment.

Trump's planned engagements will center on bilateral issues, particularly investment, arms sales, and cooperation in artificial intelligence, according to Axios. The trip comes days after the US State Department approved a potential $3.5 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia, including medium-range air-to-air missiles and support equipment.

While the summit in Riyadh is expected to have a broader regional scope, no new diplomatic initiatives are anticipated. Notably, Trump is not expected to visit Israel during this trip. US and Israeli officials told Axios there is currently no breakthrough in hostage-release or ceasefire negotiations in Gaza that would warrant a visit.

Trump’s trip echoes his first overseas visit as president in 2017, when he also chose Saudi Arabia for a high-profile regional summit.