US President Donald Trump on Thursday confirmed his first foreign trip as president will include stops in Saudi Arabia, Zionist entity and the Vatican.
Trump will add the three stops to an already announced visit to NATO and G7 summits in Brussels and Sicily later this month.
“My first foreign trip as president of the United States will be to Saudi Arabia, then Israel, and then to a place that my cardinals love very much, Rome,” Trump said, referring to the Zionist entity.
The visit comes as Trump wades into Middle East peacemaking, trying to reach a deal where his predecessors and countless diplomats have faltered.
Trump said he “will begin with a truly historic gathering in Saudi Arabia with leaders from all across the Muslim world.”
“Saudi Arabia is the custodian of the two holiest sites in Islam.”
“It is there we will begin to construct a new foundation of cooperation and support with our Muslim allies to combat extremism, terrorism and violence and to embrace a more just and hopeful future for young Muslims in their countries.”
From there Trump will travel to the occupied territories– leaving open the possibility of an additional stop in the West Bank.
Pope Francis will receive US President Donald Trump at the Vatican on May 24, the Holy See said Thursday, ahead of the G7 summit meeting in Sicily on May 26-27.
Source: AFP
