Trump holds a Gulf summit in Riyadh to discuss Middle East issues.

In a prominent political move reflecting Washington's renewed interest in Middle Eastern issues, US President Donald Trump is preparing to visit the Saudi capital, Riyadh, in the middle of this month, where he will hold a meeting with Gulf leaders, as revealed by "Axios" website. The anticipated visit aims to present the US administration's vision on sensitive regional issues, in addition to discussing Trump's priorities regarding bilateral relations, investments, arms deals, and cooperation in advanced fields such as artificial intelligence. Sources from "Axios" clarified that the upcoming Gulf summit will be limited to Gulf leaders only, without inviting leaders of other Arab countries, with the possibility of expanding the meeting later to include a wider range of parties. After his visit to Riyadh, Trump will head to Doha for a meeting with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, then to Abu Dhabi where he will meet with the UAE President, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, on May 15. Trump's Gulf tour reflects a clear desire to enhance strategic cooperation with Washington's traditional partners in the region, at a time when the Middle East is witnessing rapid political and security transformations, and economic challenges are strongly asserting themselves on regional and international dialogue tables.