US and Saudi Arabian companies signed business deals worth tens of billions of dollars during a visit by President Donald Trump, as Riyadh seeks help to develop its economy beyond oil. National oil firm Saudi Aramco said it signed $50 billion of agreements with US firms. Energy minister Khalid al-Falih said deals involving all companies totalled over $200 billion, many of them designed to produce things in Saudi Arabia that had previously been imported. Business leaders on both sides were keen to demonstrate their talks had been a success, so there was an element of showmanship in the huge numbers. Some deals had been announced previously; others were memorandums of understanding that would require further negotiations to materialise. Nevertheless, the deals illustrated Saudi Arabia’s hunger for foreign capital and technology as it tries to reduce its dependence on oil exports. Top Saudi economic policy makers, including the finance minister and head of the kingdom´s main sovereign wealth fund, described investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia to a conference attended by dozens of US executives. Saudi officials said they aimed to prepare new, streamlined rules covering direct investment by foreign firms within 12 months. Among the deals signed on Saturday, GE said it reached $15 billion of agreements involving almost $7 billion of goods and services from GE itself. They ranged from the power and healthcare sectors to the oil and gas industry and mining. Jacobs Engineering will form a joint venture with Aramco to manage business projects in the kingdom, and McDermott International will transfer some of its ship fabrication facilities from Dubai to a new shipbuilding complex which Aramco will build within Saudi Arabia. Riyadh, one of the world´s biggest military spenders, is keen to develop a domestic arms industry rather than importing weapons, so several deals were in military industries. Lockheed Martin said it would support the final assembly and completion of an estimated 150 S-70 Black Hawk utility helicopters in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia’s king presented President Donald Trump with the kingdom’s top civilian honour as Trump began a trip to Riyadh aimed at strengthening security and economic ties. King Salman decorated Trump with the gold King Abdulaziz medal during a meeting at the royal court in the Saudi capital.The Saudi Arabia has recently formed anti-terrorism alliance to eliminate terrorism from the Muslim world. Terrorism is serious threat and it is severely harmingthe Muslim countries and should be handledcommonly. The deal may escalate proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran and it may put negative impact on Muslim world. The differences between both countries are severely harming the interests of the Umma. The deal reflects that Saudi Arabia wants to increase its defence capabilities to protect the country’s interests. It is mandatory for the states to maintain minimum deterrence. But it seems that the Saudi Arabia is spending huge money in purchasing arms. As there is no direct threat to Saudi Arabia’s security it is tantamount towastage of resources. Saudi Arabia is relying on external sources for its defence requirements and spending precious resources. It needs to develop its own defence capabilities to save money. The focus should be on peaceful resolutions of issues instead of fighting wars.
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