From Riyadh:

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has confirmed that the US had signed a $109bn arms deal with Saudi Arabia during the first day of US President Donald Trump’s first official foreign trip.

Speaking at a press conference following an afternoon of talks and contract signings between Saudi and US governments and companies on 20 May, Tillerson confirmed that a $109bn-plus arms deal had been completed.

The deal will also assist to create jobs in the kingdom, with boosting defence production a key aim of the Vision 2030 development programme. Riyadh is targeting for 50 per cent of defence spending to be sourced locally by 2030.

Tillerson said that the deal would bolster Saudi Arabia’s defences against “Iranian threats,” which he said “exists on Saudi Arabia’s borders on all sides.” He also said strengthening Saudi Arabia’s defences would reduce pressure on the US’ military, and “reduces the cost to American people to provide security in this region.”

The deal is one of the largest single arms deals in US history.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, speaking alongside Tillerson, revealed that the US and Saudi Arabia had also signed a joint “vision” declaration to underpin the multi-billion dollar agreements signed during the US visit.

Speaking at another press event in Riyadh at the Arab Islamic American Summit, Mohammed al-Sheikh, Saudi Arabia’s minister of state, told media that more than $300bn worth of agreements were due to have been signed on 20 May during the first day of US President Trump’s visit.