New Middle East Order: US and Saudi Arabia Forge Massive Security and Economic Partnership at White House Summit

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) arrived at the White House today, Tuesday, for a high-profile summit with US President Donald Trump, receiving a formal welcome that included a US Air Force flyover and an honor salute. The meeting is focused on finalizing massive security and economic deals, with the potential for Israeli normalization looming large.

During a joint press conference, MbS was explicit about his nation's diplomatic goals, stating, "We want to be part of the Abraham Accords, but we also want to ensure that the safe path to two states takes place. We want peace for Israelis and Palestinians, we want peace in the region, and we will do our best to achieve it." President Trump responded by saying, "I assume you have good intentions regarding the Abraham Accords."

Sources close to the negotiations indicated that MbS’s message to Trump on normalization is "Yes, but at the right time," emphasizing that while he is committed to the goal, conditions have not fully matured due to the lack of full war implementation and Israel’s refusal to commit to a pathway for a Palestinian state.

The F-35 Deal and Nuclear Cooperation

President Trump used the press conference to confirm the controversial arms deal, stating his intent to sell F-35 stealth fighters to Saudi Arabia.

Trump asserted that the jets delivered to Saudi Arabia "will be quite similar to Israel's," adding, "Israel is aware of the deal and is very happy. Saudi Arabia is a great ally, and so is Israel, and as far as I'm concerned, the planes are on the same level, they will receive the greatest upgrades." This confirmation comes despite the deal potentially narrowing Israel's Qualitative Military Edge (QME), a process that is expected to take six years to deliver the first jets, allowing time for US-Israeli security understandings.

Beyond the F-35s, the two leaders are set to sign a new security agreement that, while less legally binding than a formal defense pact, would significantly upgrade US security guarantees to the Kingdom. They are also expected to sign an agreement on civilian nuclear cooperation, which notably excludes Saudi demands for uranium enrichment on its soil.

The Trillion-Dollar Investment and Khashoggi

A central focus of the visit is the unprecedented economic alliance. The Crown Prince reiterated Saudi Arabia’s commitment to investing $600 billion in the US, then dramatically raised the ante during the press briefing.

MbS stated: "Definitely! And we will only increase it, Mr. President. It is an honor to be your friend, and thank you for the trillion dollars," after President Trump joked about expanding the investment. Trump called the investment a matter of national security: "When you invest a trillion dollars, that's our national security."

The issue of the murdered journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, also arose. When a journalist pressed MbS on the 2018 assassination, Trump interjected, telling the reporter, "Don't embarrass our guest, many did not like Khashoggi, things happen." MbS himself expressed regret for the "unjustified death," a tragedy that had previously led many in the West, including former President Joe Biden, to shun the Crown Prince for years.

Broader Strategic and Regional Issues

The two leaders dedicated significant time to regional issues:

The summit, which aims to forge a new strategic framework for US-Saudi relations, continues tonight with an official dinner, and tomorrow with an investment forum focused on deals in AI, energy, and logistics, solidifying the largest commercial agreements in the history of the US-Saudi partnership.