Saudi Crown Prince promises $600 billion investment boost in US relations

RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohamad Bin Salman told President Donald Trump that his country is willing to expand its investment and trade with the US in the coming four years by $600 billion, or even more if opportunities arose, according to the state run Saudi Press Agency (SPA) and reported by Bloomberg.

The crown prince, known as MBS, spoke to the American president in a congratulatory phone on Wednesday, said SPA.

During the call, Prince Mohammad said the kingdom was eager to seize partnership and investment opportunities created by the new administration’s anticipated reforms, which could achieve ‘unprecedented economic prosperity.”

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Both men who have had warm ties since Trump’s first tenure, also discussed cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the US in efforts to bring peace and stability in the Middle East, and to fight terrorism.

The crown prince’s move could help secure a return visit by Trump to his country. The US leader’s first overseas trip as president in 2017 was to Saudi Arabia, which Trump earlier this said came after the kingdom agreed a substantial investment in buying US goods, including weaponry.

Trump told reporters he’d be happy to visit Saudi Arabia again if it wanted to buy another $450 billion or $500 billion worth of US goods. The $600 billion offer would easily clear that threshold.