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Win-Win Situation? Riyadh to Buy its Way Into Washington’s Heart

© AP Photo / Evan VucciPresident Donald Trump meets with Saudi Defense Minister and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington
President Donald Trump meets with Saudi Defense Minister and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington - Sputnik International
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Ahead of US President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia, unofficial sources are claiming that Riyadh will be attempting to curry favor with Washington by pulling out the checkbook for America’s highways.

According to a recent Bloomberg report, Saudi Arabia is seeking to diversify its investment in fossil fuels, and will pump as much as $40 billion into rebuilding and repairing infrastructure in the US.

The skyline of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is seen at night in this aerial photograph from a helicopter. - Sputnik International
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President Trump is traveling to the kingdom on May 19, and according to unnamed sources cited by Reuters, an estimated $40 billion from Riyadh's sovereign wealth fund will be made available to the US as an investment into rebuilding highways and bridges in the country that are falling apart.

In the wake of the previous US administration's participation in the historic nuclear deal with Iran, Saudi Arabia is now seen to be attempting to restart positive relations with Washington.

Riyadh claimed a "historic turning point" in diplomatic relations between the two countries after Trump met with the kingdom's deputy crown prince at the White House several months ago, according to Bloomberg.

Next week, Trump will travel outside of the US for the first time since his inauguration, visiting Riyadh and Jerusalem, before heading north to Europe.

Representatives from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and its Ministry of Finance have not publicly commented on the story.

Trump campaigned on a pledge to infuse an estimated $1 trillion into US infrastructure projects, including highways, rail networks, bridges, mass transport systems, and seaports. The White House has asserted that over the next four years it will create a US-Saudi program valued at over $200 billion to rebuild or repair assets in the energy, industry, infrastructure and technology spheres.

Following a global slump in oil prices, Saudi Arabia has actively sought to diversify its investments, primarily deploying enormous cash infusions into the technology sector, including a $3.5 billion June 2016 play into rideshare company Uber.

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