President Trump called on Saudi Arabia to recognize Israel during a speech to the oil-rich kingdom’s leaders on Tuesday — saying “you’ll be greatly honoring me” by doing so.

Trump frequently referred to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman by name during his speech at the Saudi-US investment forum as the country’s de facto ruler watched from the front row, flanked by Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.

“With the historic Abraham Accords that we’re so proud of, all the momentum was aimed at peace, aimed very successfully,” Trump said.

“It’s been an amazing thing, the Abraham Accords, and it’s my fervent hope, wish, and even my dream that Saudi Arabia — a place I have such respect for, especially over the last fairly short period of time, what you’ve been able to do — but will soon be joining the Abraham Accords.”

Trump added: “I think it’ll be a tremendous tribute to your country, and it will be something that’s really going to be very important for the future of the future of the Middle East.

I took a risk in doing them, and they’ve been an absolute bonanza for the countries that have joined the Biden administration did nothing for four years.”

The Abraham Accords, brokered in 2020 under Trump’s first administration, marked a historic shift in Middle East diplomacy by establishing formal diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco.

Spearheaded by Trump’s son-in-law and senior advisor Jared Kushner, the accords were celebrated as a pathway to peace, emphasizing shared Abrahamic heritage over historical conflicts.

The agreements facilitated cooperation in security, trade, and tourism, with participating nations reaping mutual economic and strategic benefits.

Trump’s renewed call for Saudi Arabia to join the accords reflects a long-standing goal of expanding the framework to include the region’s most influential Arab power.

Given its religious and economic weight as the custodian of Islam’s holiest sites and a leading oil producer, Saudi Arabia’s participation could significantly enhance the accords’ impact.

Trump’s trip to Saudi Arabia, the first leg of a four-day Middle East tour that also includes Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, has been characterized by a focus on economic partnerships rather than purely diplomatic endeavors.

The White House announced a staggering $600 billion commitment from Saudi Arabia to invest in the United States, alongside a $142 billion arms deal described as the “largest defense cooperation agreement” in U.S. history.

Additional agreements include $80 billion in investments from companies like DataVolt, Google, Oracle, Salesforce, AMD, and Uber, aimed at bolstering AI, energy, and technology infrastructure in both nations.

Accompanied by prominent American business leaders, including Elon Musk, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, and Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, Trump’s visit underscores his transactional approach to foreign policy.

Saudi Arabia rolled out a lavish welcome, complete with fighter jet escorts, a convoy of Arabian horses, and even a mobile McDonald’s near the Royal Court, signaling the kingdom’s eagerness to strengthen ties with the U.S.

Despite Trump’s optimism, Saudi Arabia’s path to joining the Abraham Accords faces significant hurdles.

The ongoing war in Gaza, coupled with Israel’s refusal under its current far-right government to commit to a pathway for Palestinian statehood, remains a major sticking point.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has previously indicated that normalization with Israel would require a permanent end to the Gaza conflict and tangible progress toward a Palestinian state, conditions that appear politically untenable for Riyadh at present.

The sensitivity of the issue is heightened by Saudi Arabia’s role as the birthplace of Islam and custodian of Mecca and Medina.

For the kingdom, normalizing relations with Israel is not merely a diplomatic decision but a deeply sensitive national security and cultural matter.

U.S. officials are reportedly pressing Israel for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza as a precondition for restarting normalization talks, but progress remains elusive.

Moreover, Trump’s decision to delink Saudi-Israeli normalization from broader economic and security agreements with the kingdom suggests a pragmatic shift.

While normalization was a central focus during his first term, the current approach prioritizes immediate economic gains and regional stability, with normalization deferred until conditions are more favorable.