Trump departs for Saudi Arabia in 'historic' Middle East tour

US President Donald Trump departed Washington on Monday for a multi-country tour of the Middle East, which he described as a "historic" trip centered on regional diplomacy and major economic agreements.

The journey will include stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with the possibility of a detour to Turkey if progress is made in talks between Russia and Ukraine.

“This is big news,” Trump said from the White House shortly before boarding Air Force One, referring to the release of US-"Israeli" captive Edan Alexander. The captive was handed over to the Red Cross just as Trump was preparing to leave. “He’s coming home to his parents, which is really great news. They thought he was dead.”

The ongoing war on Gaza looms large over the trip. Trump recently tempered his earlier pledges to swiftly end the aggression, and tensions between him and "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have grown — particularly over military actions in Gaza and strikes on Yemen’s Houthi rebels, as well as the approach to Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Despite the friction, Trump said that “very good things [are] happening” with regards to US-Iran negotiations, although he reiterated, “Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon.”

While speaking with reporters, Trump noted that the tour would focus on “three primary countries” in the Gulf and expressed hope for additional breakthroughs in captive negotiations. “I hope that we’re going to have other hostages released too,” he said.

The president also addressed a fresh controversy involving Qatar, which reportedly plans to donate a new Air Force One aircraft. Trump criticized delays in the production of replacement planes and said it would be “stupid” not to accept the Qatari gift.

If diplomatic developments warrant, Trump suggested he might adjust his itinerary to include Istanbul for a potential summit between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I don’t know where I’m going to be at that particular point,” he said. “But I would [go], if I thought it would be helpful.”

Trump’s tour begins in Saudi Arabia — the same location where he launched his first overseas trip as president in 2017. However, unlike that previous journey, "Israel" is not on this tour’s agenda.

Analysts say the president’s itinerary highlights his comfort zone in the Gulf and longstanding ties in the region. “It’s hard for me to escape the idea that President Trump is going to the Gulf because this is his happy place,” said Jon Alterman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Leaders in Riyadh, Doha, and Abu Dhabi are expected to roll out red-carpet welcomes and finalize a number of high-profile deals in sectors such as defense, energy, aviation, and artificial intelligence — underlining both their regional influence and Trump’s business-driven approach to foreign policy.