President Donald Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, marking the first leg of his four-day Middle East tour. The visit aims to boost trade and security ties between the US and the region, with the president expected to announce deals with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar on artificial intelligence, energy cooperation, and potential arms sales.

Trump's trip has sparked controversy, with critics arguing that his transactional approach to international politics is isolating the US from its allies. The president, however, sees the tour as a demonstration of his strategy's success in securing economic benefits for the US.

Despite the potential for diplomatic gains, the visit has been marred by concerns over Trump's decision to halt a US airstrike campaign against Yemen's Houthis without consulting Israel, a key ally in the region. The move has raised questions about the president's commitment to regional security and his ability to work with his allies.

The tour will also focus on Trump's efforts to restart his Abraham Accords initiative, which aims to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. However, progress on this front seems uncertain, given the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the lack of progress on Palestinian statehood.