TRUMP Starts Saudi Trip with Massive ARMS Deal
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SUBSCRIPTION SUNDAY, MAY 21, 2017 SHABAN 25, 1438 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Fishermen say Comey to testify; Faith Capital James powers pollution not Trump says firing Holding Cavaliers in the main reason ‘nut job’ FBI chief acquires record rout for poor3 catch took off7 pressure Masbagti23 of20 Celtics Trump starts Saudi trip Min 30º Max 44º with massive arms deal High Tide 08:08 & 19:27 Low Tide King Salman fetes Trump with top honor • Deals worth $380bn inked 01:16 & 13:50 40 PAGES NO: 17234 150 FILS RIYADH: The White House announced a huge arms deal with Saudi Arabia yesterday as US President Donald Trump took his first steps on the world stage, looking to leave mounting troubles behind at home. The $110 bil- lion deal for Saudi purchases of US defense equipment and services came at the start of an eight-day foreign tour that will also take Trump to Jerusalem, the Vatican and meetings with leaders in Europe. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir said deals worth in excess of $380 billion were signed during Trump’s visit. “That was a tremendous day. Tremendous investments in the United States,” Trump said at talks with Saudi King Salman. “Hundreds of billions of dollars of investments into the United States and jobs, jobs, jobs.” White House spokesman Sean Spicer hailed the defense agreement as the “largest single arms deal in US history”. “This package of defense equipment and services support the long-term security of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region in the face of Iranian threats,” a White House official said. As well as the talks with Salman, Trump met the king- dom’s two powerful crown princes yesterday, before giving a speech on Islam to leaders of Muslim countries today. For Riyadh, the visit is an opportunity to rebuild ties with a key ally, strained under Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama who Arab Gulf states suspected of a tilt towards their regional rival Iran. The arms package includes a pledge by the kingdom to assemble 150 Lockheed Martin Blackhawk helicop- RIYADH: (Left) US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz stop for coffee in the terminal of King Khalid International ters in Saudi Arabia, in a $6 billion deal expected to Airport following Trump’s arrival yesterday. (Right) Trump receives the Order of Abdulaziz Al-Saud medal from King Salman at the Saudi Royal Court. — AFP result in about 450 jobs in the kingdom. Continued on Page 13 Rouhani sweeps to victory Amir sends congratulations TEHRAN: Iran has chosen the “path of engagement with the world” and rejected extremism, President Hassan Rouhani said following his resounding re-election victory yes- terday. Rouhani, a 68-year-old mod- erate cleric who spearheaded a 2015 nuclear deal with world pow- ers, said voters had shunned those who wanted to turn the country back to the past. “The Iranian peo- ple want to live in peace and friend- ship with the rest of the world, but will not accept any threat or humili- ation,” he said on state television. With 57 percent of the vote, Rouhani scored a convincing victory over hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi on 38.3 percent. But he faces a stark challenge from US President Donald Trump, who has threatened to tear up the nuclear deal and re-impose TEHRAN: Newly re-elected Iranian President Hassan Rouhani gestures sanctions. Rouhani made an appar- during a televised speech yesterday.— AFP ent dig at regional rival Saudi the central Vali Asr Square, in spite of The result “shows that Iranian peo- Arabia, which is currently hosting police efforts to move them along. ple no longer believe in economic Trump, saying: “Our people have Iranians flocked to the polls on Friday, populism and radical change,” said Ali declared to neighbouring countries with the turnout reaching 73 percent Vaez, Iran analyst for the International and the whole region that the path and forcing election officials to Crisis Group think tank. “They have to ensuring security is the reinforce- extend voting by several hours. Raisi, the maturity to understand that the ment of democracy and not relying 56, had cast himself as a defender of solution to their country’s predica- on foreign powers.” the poor and called for a tougher line ments are in competent management There were jubilant scenes in the with the West, but his revolutionary of the economy and moderation in capital Tehran, with hundreds of rhetoric and promise of increased international relations,” Vaez told AFP. young people singing and dancing in handouts gained limited traction. Continued on Page 13 At WEF, entrepreneurs seen as solution for Mideast troubles DEAD SEA, Jordan: Digital start-ups run by young Arab entrepreneurs took center stage yesterday at the World Economic Forum, where par- ticipants said private sector-driven growth is key to solving the Middle East’s stark economic problems, including 30 percent youth unem- ployment. More than 1,100 politi- cians and business people came together for the forum’s regional meeting. Among them were EU for- eign policy chief Federica Mogherini, German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, CEOs from the region and the founders of 100 start-ups from the Arab world. The forum’s regional meeting was held as President Donald Trump, whose young administration is engulfed in controversy, began his SHUNEH, Jordan: Israeli MP Tzipi Livni speaks with Palestinian first international trip with a visit to President Mahmoud Abbas during the opening session of the World Continued on Page 13 Economic Forum held in this Dead Sea resort yesterday. — AFP LOCAL SUNDAY, MAY 21, 2017 Local Spotlight Trump in Saudi Arabia By Muna Al-Fuzai [email protected] S President Donald Trump is visiting Saudi Arabia, and this trip has made headlines in the UArab press since the past week. Speculations and debate over this visit and its impact will not end any time soon. This is not the first visit by an American president to the region and Saudi Arabia, so what is the KUWAIT: His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem sees off His Highness the Amir importance of this visit? sees off His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah at the air- Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Facts and figures confirm that no American presi- port yesterday. — Amiri Diwan photos dent has ever visited the holy sites of Islam, Judaism and Christianity in a single trip. Trump’s journey starts from Saudi Arabia, then onwards to Israel and the Vatican, so apparently it is not merely a foreign and Amir heads to Riyadh for GCC-US Summit diplomatic trip. Another main reason is that three sum- mits have been arranged during the visit. This is an KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem, army, police, national guard and Kuwait Fire Highness the Amir’s Office Chief Ahmad Al- exceptional event that includes a bilateral summit, a Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and his Sheikh Jaber Al-Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Service Directorate. Fahad, Advisor at the Amiri Diwan summit with GCC leaders and another meeting with accompanying delegation have left for Saudi Sheikh Faisal Al-Saud Al-Mohammad Al- His Highness the Amir’s accompanying Mohammad Abdullah Abulhasan, Amiri Arab and Muslim leaders. Arabia yesterday to lead Kuwait’s delegation Sabah, Deputy Chairman of the National delegation includes First Deputy Prime Protocols Chief Sheikh Khaled Al-Abdullah The Saudi-American summit aims at reaffirming the to the 7th consultative summit of the Gulf Guard Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Sabah Al-Nasser Al-Sabah, Deputy Foreign strong friendship and strengthening political, econom- Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders, GCC-US Sabah, His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al- Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Deputy Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah, Amiri Diwan’s ic and security ties between the two countries. It cer- summit and Arab-Islamic-US summit in Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, His Premier and Defense Minister Sheikh Media Chief Yousef Al-Roumi, Chairman of tainly conveys the message that no power can defeat Riyadh. His Highness the Amir was seen off Highness Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al- Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Amiri Diwan’s Political and Economic Affairs terrorism and extremism without the support of the at the airport by His Highness the Deputy Mubark Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Minister of Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Sheikh Sheikh Fawaz Saud Nasser Al-Sabah and sen- Saudi kingdom and its allies. Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al- Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al- Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah, Deputy Premier ior officials of Amiri Diwan and Foreign The summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, National Ahmad Al-Sabah and senior officials of the and Finance Minister Anas Al-Saleh, His Ministry. — KUNA America aims to discuss the threats to security and sta- bility in the region, and bolster trade relations between the GCC and the United States. Along with the Arab Islamic American summit, these meetings with the US president illustrate the new US administration’s desire ‘Renewable Energy-Made in Germany’ to reshape the US position in the region, choke Iranian expansion and differentiate between Muslims and extremists. These are three vital gatherings to confirm expo starts tomorrow at The Avenues the US’ strong return to the region and the GCC fold led by Saudi Arabia. Despite Trump’s comments during his election cam- By Ben Garcia currently using for clean and green environment.