Washington, 19 November (H.S.): President Donald Trump extended a warm and elaborate welcome to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House on Tuesday, signaling a significant strengthening of U.S.-Saudi ties despite lingering controversy over the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
In his first visit to the U.S. since the killing, the crown prince secured major defense and economic agreements, while Trump publicly defended him, stating, “Things happen.”
Economic and Defense Pacts
During the Oval Office meeting, the two leaders announced a series of landmark deals expected to reshape economic and security landscapes in the Middle East. The Crown Prince declared that Saudi Arabia would increase its investment commitment in the United States to nearly $1 trillion, a substantial rise from the previously pledged $600 billion. These investments will target key sectors such as artificial intelligence, energy, and defense.
In a major strategic development, President Trump confirmed the United States will sell advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, a move that would end Israel’s exclusive operation of the aircraft in the region. The two nations also finalized a Strategic Defense Agreement and a civil nuclear cooperation agreement, establishing a framework for a multi-billion-dollar partnership with strong non-proliferation standards.
