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What Saudi leaders expect from Trump’s visit

Saudi officials see an opportunity to gain influence in the Middle East when US President Donald Trump visits their country later this week.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 10, 2017.  REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque - RTS1619B
US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the White House in Washington, May 10, 2017. — REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Preparations are underway in Saudi Arabia to welcome US President Donald Trump, who is seeking to mobilize the Islamic world against terrorism, while Saudi officials are hoping to gain some political advantages, especially as they exchange threats with Iran.

The US-Islamic-Arab Summit is scheduled to be held in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on May 21 in the presence of Trump. Meanwhile, on May 7, Saudi Crown Prince and Interior Minister Mohammed bin Nayef welcomed in his Jeddah office US Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly and Thomas Bossert, Trump's counterterrorism adviser, to discuss issues of mutual interest in security and fighting terrorism, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

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