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The moment President Donald Trump arrived in Riyadh on Tuesday was more than symbolic — it was historic. This visit, dubbed by some as “MAGA in the Desert,” is not just a reflection of a long-standing alliance but a turning point in how the US and �������� can lead the world into an artificial intelligence-driven future. The convergence of diplomacy, capital and code has never been more urgent — or more promising.

For more than eight decades, the US–Saudi relationship has underpinned regional stability and global economic progress — from energy markets to defense. Today, that alliance is evolving into something even more powerful: a partnership that defines the future through digital strength, AI and transformative innovation.

Under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and his bold Vision 2030 agenda, �������� is not merely keeping pace with the Fourth Industrial Revolution — it is setting the pace. From launching the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority to announcing nearly $15 billion in tech investments at LEAP 2025, the Kingdom is asserting itself as the Arab world’s digital powerhouse.

This ambition finds a complementary force in the Trump administration’s decisive embrace of AI and frontier technologies. President Trump’s appointment of David Sacks as AI and crypto czar and Vice President J.D. Vance’s call to unlock AI’s potential at the Paris AI Action Summit signal an administration that delivers on enabling innovation, not regulating it into paralysis.

The US and �������� — each with distinct but synergistic advantages — can form the backbone of a new global digital order. America brings unmatched innovation capacity. �������� offers scale, capital and a strategic position bridging East and West. Together, they can reshape the global digital landscape — not just for mutual benefit but for the betterment of humanity.

This is where the Digital Cooperation Organization steps in.

Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Riyadh, it is the world’s only intergovernmental organization solely dedicated to advancing digital prosperity. With 16 member states across four continents, representing more than 800 million people and a gross domestic product of $3.5 trillion, the Digital Cooperation Organization is building a truly global platform — focused especially on empowering youth and women, and fostering inclusive, sustainable digital economies.

As the first Saudi woman to lead a multilateral organization, I see firsthand how our member states are striving to close the digital divide, leapfrog legacy systems and unlock growth through connectivity. Whether it is digital ID systems for displaced populations, fintech to restore livelihoods or upskilling programs for AI, the Digital Cooperation Organization is where policy, innovation and human development converge.

The US and �������� — each with distinct but synergistic advantages — can form the backbone of a new global digital order. 

Deemah Al-Yahya

But we cannot do this alone. The digital age demands a new kind of diplomacy — one built not on territorial lines but on technological cooperation. Data knows no borders. AI is rewriting the rules of power. Cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure and algorithmic integrity are now central to countries’ national interest.

That is why this visit matters.

President Trump’s visit to Riyadh is not just a diplomatic signal — it is a strategic call to action.

We have a rare opportunity to go beyond talk and build: a bilateral AI investment fund to drive breakthroughs in health, energy, logistics and defense; digital trade frameworks that protect data, unlock markets and bolster infrastructure resilience; and joint initiatives to extend digital connectivity across Africa, Asia and the Global South.

In short, we can translate goodwill into digital infrastructure. From data centers to fiber networks, from educational platforms to AI sandboxes, the US-Saudi digital partnership can be a cornerstone of global stability and shared prosperity.

The Digital Cooperation Organization stands ready to serve as the bridge, the catalyst and the platform to make that happen.

The world is watching. And history will remember what we build next. Let us not simply witness the AI revolution — let us lead it.

Together, we can move faster. Build smarter. Reach further. Together, we can make the US-Saudi digital partnership not only stronger — but truly great again.

• Deemah Al-Yahya is Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization.  X: @Dalyahya