President Trump’s first foreign visit to Saudi Arabia

US President Donald Trump embarked on his first overseas visit since taking office, visiting Saudi Arabia, Israel and the Vatican.

King Salman bin Abdulaziz greeted Mr Trump on red carpet after he stepped off Air Force One and shook hands with his wife Melania. Later on Saturday, Mr Trump received the nation’s highest civilian honour – the Collar of Abulaziz al Saud – for “his quest to enhance security and stability in the region and around the world”.

Trump has decided to distance himself from the foreign policies of his predecessor Barak Obama is to vilify Iran and clannish up to the Saudis. Soon after taking office in January 2017, he sent his new CIA Director, Mike Pompeo, to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, which resulted in forging a new relationship between Washington and Riyadh. The Saudis lost confidence in Mr Obama, some years ago, suspecting him of going soft on Iran in the rush to secure a nuclear deal.

Young Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Defence Minister Prince Mohammed Bin Salman emerged from his March visit to the White House pronouncing that he was “very optimistic” about President Trump, who he said would “bring America back to the right track”.

President Trump will be hoping to ensure major Saudi investment in the US – over $40bn according to some reports.

Speaking in Saudi capital, Mr Trump said “ The fight against extremism was not a battle between different faiths – this is a battle between good and evil. We can only overcome this evil if the force of good are united and strong, and if everyone in this room does their fair share and fulfils their part of the burden”.