Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (MBS) will visit the White House on Tuesday for his first meeting with US President Donald Trump since 2018, aiming to deepen longstanding ties on oil, security, and defense while expanding cooperation in commerce, technology, artificial intelligence, and civilian nuclear energy.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is set to receive a lavish welcome from US President Donald Trump on Tuesday, signing defense and nuclear deals during his first visit to the United States since the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi
Full story:… pic.twitter.com/gmFLyc3l7J
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) November 18, 2025
The visit, confirmed by White House officials, marks a full reset seven years after the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul—linked to MBS by US intelligence, though he denied direct involvement. Trump, who avoided human rights rebukes during his May Riyadh trip, plans a formal working dinner and investment forum to capitalize on Saudi Arabia’s $600 billion US pledge.
You May Like To Read: France Commits Up to 100 Rafale Jets to Ukraine in Major Boost Amid Russian Invasion Setbacks
“There is a page that has been turned,” said Aziz Alghashian, Saudi international relations lecturer. Trump seeks to advance normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel—contingent on Riyadh’s demands for Palestinian statehood—while MBS prioritizes security guarantees amid Iran tensions and regional turmoil, including Israel’s September strikes on Qatar.
A key focus: a US-Saudi defense pact, potentially via executive order like Trump’s recent Qatar deal, committing to consultations on threats without full Senate ratification. “It would run the gamut from replacing arms to deploying THAAD or active combat,” said former US negotiator Dennis Ross.
MBS also pushes for AI access—vital for Vision 2030 diversification against UAE rivalry—and nuclear progress, waiving US stipulations on uranium enrichment despite proliferation risks. Saudi Arabia, the top oil producer, seeks to level up with UAE’s program.
The summit underscores mutual pragmatism: Trump bolsters Middle East alliances; MBS safeguards economic reforms. Despite MAGA domestic focus critiques, the White House views it as job-creating diplomacy. Outcomes could reshape Gulf security and tech flows.
Check out our latest video:
