Trump in Saudi Arabia on first foreign trip

Gets rousing welcome; King Salman greets US president and wife as they step off plane; says Trump visit enhances global security, stability;

deals worth tens of billions reached

RIYADH: US President Donald Trump won a warm reception in Saudi Arabia upon arrival here, Saturday, on his first foreign trip since assuming power as president.A $110 billion deal in which Saudi Arabia will buy US arms to help it counter Iran, with options for as much as $350 billion over 10 years, was the central achievement of Trump´s first day in Riyadh, first stop on a nine-day journey through the Middle East and Europe. 

King Salman bin Abdulaziz greeted Trump on a red carpet as he stepped off Air Force One, shaking the hand of his wife, Melania, and riding in the US presidential limousine.

It was a more favourable welcome than had been granted last year to Trump´s predecessor, Barack Obama, who was seen in the Arab kingdom as soft on Iran and hesitant on Syria. Trump´s trip to Saudi Arabia, Israel, Italy, the Vatican and Belgium has been billed by the White House as a chance to visit places sacred to three of the world´s major religions, while giving Trump time to meet with Arab, Israeli and European leaders. Trump and King Salman seemed at ease with each other, chatting through an interpreter. At the royal al-Yamama palace, the king draped around Trump´s neck the King Abdulaziz medal, the country´s top civilian honour.

Meanwhile, a White House official said Washington has agreed arms deals with Saudi Arabia worth almost $110 billion.

"This package of defence equipment and services support the long-term security of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region in the face of Iranian threats," the official said.

It will also bolster the kingdom´s "ability to contribute to counter-terrorism operations across the region, reducing the burden on the US military to conduct those operations," the official added.

Trump and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson "will attend a signing ceremony" for the deals, the official said.

The official described the agreements as "a significant expansion of the over seven-decade-long security relationship between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."

The official did not provide details of the agreements with Riyadh, which is one of the world´s biggest defence spenders.

A preliminary deal worth $6 billion to assemble 150 Lockheed Martin Blackhawk helicopters in Saudi Arabia was separately announced at the Saudi-US CEO Forum held in Riyadh during Trump´s visit. The programme to "support the final assembly and completion of an estimated 150 S-70 Black Hawk utility helicopters" will support around 450 jobs in the kingdom, said a forum statement.

US defence contractors are major suppliers of weapons to Saudi Arabia, which for more than two years has led a coalition conducting air strikes and other operations against rebels in Yemen.

The new deals come despite mounting pressure on Washington from rights groups to stop arms sales to Riyadh, which has come under repeated criticism over civilian casualties in Yemen. Saudi Arabia on Thursday announced the creation of a new military industries firm as part of the kingdom´s efforts to boost defence production. 

The kingdom´s Public Investment Fund said the new government-owned company, Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), "aims to become one of the world´s top 25 defence companies by 2030."

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said in an April report that Saudi Arabia last year was the world´s fourth-largest military spender, spending $63.7 billion. 

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia´s King Salman bin Abdulaziz said on Saturday the visit of Donald Trump to the kingdom would strengthen cooperation between the two countries and help enhance global security.

"Mr. President, your visit will strengthen our strategic cooperation, lead to global security and stability," King Salman said in a message on his official Twitter account in Arabic and English.