The Trump–Saudi AI Realignment Is Redrawing Global Tech Maps. With Elon Musk’s Rift Shifting Dynamics, Can Türkiye Step Up?

By Esra Talu

A New Global Tech Order, With Emerging Fault Lines
In May 2025, US President Donald Trump and key members of his administration visited Saudi Arabia, resulting in a landmark $600 billion investment commitment from the Kingdom to the United States. At the center of this realignment is artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and digital infrastructure.
One of the most talked-about announcements was the launch of Humain, a state-backed Saudi AI company under the Public Investment Fund. Humain secured deals with:
◗ Nvidia to acquire over 18,000 next-generation Blackwell GPUs,
◗ AMD for a $10 billion AI infrastructure collaboration,
◗ Qualcomm to co-develop processors and AI data hubs.

Meanwhile, Saudi firm DataVolt pledged $20 billion to build energy-efficient AI data centers across the US.
This strategic shift appeared, initially, to include Elon Musk as an unofficial tech envoy—until tensions flared.

The Trump–Musk Rift: What Changed?
As of June 2025, relations between Trump and Musk have turned from cooperative to contentious:
◗ Musk publicly criticized Trump’s economic and taxation policies.
◗ Trump responded by threatening regulatory reviews and federal contract terminations involving Musk’s companies.
◗ Musk countered with remarks questioning the administration’s legitimacy and leadership.
This rift may cast a shadow over previously hinted collaborations involving Musk and Saudi-backed AI ventures, raising uncertainty about future roles for private tech players in state-level agreements.

Türkiye’s Strategic Window of Opportunity
Despite these tensions, Türkiye still holds a unique geopolitical and economic position between Europe, the Middle East, and the US. The Trump–Saudi alignment may be evolving, but the structural shift toward AI regional blocs is undeniable. Türkiye can—and should—position itself as a bridge and builder within this landscape.

Türkiye’s Potential Advantages

  1. Engineering Power at Competitive Cost
    Türkiye has a robust and globally recognized talent pool in AI, software, defense tech, and data science. With Saudi Arabia investing in infrastructure but lacking deep local talent, Turkish startups and engineers are natural collaborators.
  2. Geopolitical Leverage
    Türkiye’s location makes it ideal for hosting compliance-driven data infrastructure and regional AI testing hubs—especially for multilingual AI models (Turkish–Arabic–English) and privacy-aligned deployment for Europe.
  3. Manufacturing Capacity
    Unlike many emerging markets, Türkiye combines software development with strong industrial capabilities—ideal for physical AI applications in mobility, defense, agri-tech, and smart cities.
  4. Tech Diplomacy Potential
    Through coordinated efforts between Turkish public institutions, VC funds, and Gulf investors, Türkiye could develop co-investment vehicles and cross-border accelerator programs focused on AI and sustainability.

Risks of Inaction

  1. Losing Relevance in Regional Innovation
    Countries like the UAE and Israel are already deeply embedded in this emerging tech axis. Without proactive involvement, Türkiye risks losing influence and funding to faster-moving players.
  2. Overdependence on Europe
    Türkiye’s tech diplomacy remains heavily Eurocentric, despite slow-moving regulatory environments. The future of AI will not wait for Brussels—it is being built now in Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, and Austin.
  3. No National AI Framework Yet
    Unlike Saudi Arabia or the US, Türkiye has yet to launch a cohesive national AI strategy post-2023. A clear framework is essential to attract capital and talent in a globally competitive field.

Final Thought
Whether Elon Musk remains part of this emerging AI coalition or not, the broader Trump–Saudi realignment is unfolding fast. Türkiye should neither overidentify with any single personality nor remain neutral.
Instead, it must play the role it is uniquely suited for: an agile, independent, and globally connected innovation partner.
Because in the age of AI, you are either at the table—or on the menu. ■