President Donald Trump wrapped up the first day of his three-nation tour of the Middle East today in Riyadh. He thanked the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for a warm welcome and said the US-Saudi partnership has never been stronger.

President Donald Trump departed Monday for a four-day tour of the Middle East as he works to secure new investments for the United States and new progress on diplomatic issues, including a Gaza cease-fire.

Trump’s first policy-driven overseas visit in his second term will be the Persian Gulf. Trade, Tehran talks and possibly Gaza will be on the agenda.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday held out Saudi Arabia as a model for a reimagined Middle East, using the first major foreign trip of his term to emphasize the promise of economic prosperity over instability in a region reeling from multiple wars.

President Trump basked in this desert kingdom’s glitzy welcome as he announced an end to sanctions on Syria, signed investment deals with Saudi Arabia and issued a pointed warning to Iran. On the first of a four-day Middle East visit,

President Donald J. Trump’s trip to the Middle East on May 13-16 comes on the heels of more than three months of whirlwind activity in US foreign policy where the region has been a higher priority than it was in the early months of the previous US administration.

The issues of China trade talks, a ceasefire between Pakistan and India, the Ukraine war and Gaza hostages have been in the president's in-tray.

Iran will hold talks in Istanbul on Friday with European parties to their now-moribund 2015 nuclear deal, two European and an Iranian diplomatic source said on Tuesday,

Trump did spend some of last weekend downplaying legal and ethics concerns regarding reports Qatar is considering donating a $400 million Boeing plane.

High-stakes nuclear talks between Iran and the U.S. signal tentative progress as pressure mounts ahead of President Trump's Middle East visit.

The economic importance of the Middle East to Trump is highlighted by the fact that the visit to Saudi Arabia was due to be the first overseas trip of his second term in the White House. That was before the death of Pope Francis necessitated Trump attending his funeral in Rome towards the end of April.

President Trump kicks off his Middle East tour with a high-profile meeting with Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, signaling a bold push for renewed alliances and regional stability.