Donald Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia on the first stop of his tour of the Persian Gulf, which will also take him to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, with the aim of concluding business deals, although agreements on hot spots in the Middle East are likely to be more difficult to achieve.
The trip is the first major foreign visit by a US president since the start of his second term.
The White House said he was looking forward to a "historic return" to the region, AFP reported.
Eight years ago, Trump also chose Saudi Arabia for his first trip abroad as president, when he posed with a shiny sphere and participated in a sword dance.
His decision to once again bypass traditional Western allies and visit the oil-rich Gulf states underscores their increasingly important geopolitical role, as well as his own business ties in the region.
Saudi fighter jets escorted Air Force One as Trump landed in the capital Riyadh.
The Saudi royal family is planning a lavish welcome for the 78-year-old billionaire, who will also address an investment forum.
Trump will attend a summit of Arab leaders from the Persian Gulf today before leaving for Qatar.
In the days leading up to the trip, the White House played an important role in brokering a truce between India and Pakistan, securing the release of an American hostage in Gaza, and holding another round of talks on Iran's nuclear program.
These initiatives came after Trump's surprise announcement last week that he had reached a truce agreement with Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. | BGNES