President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the United States is officially designating Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally, a move that strengthens strategic and economic ties between Washington and Riyadh.
The announcement came during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to the White House. Although not a formal state visit, the meeting featured many ceremonial aspects typically reserved for heads of state.
“We’re taking our military cooperation to even greater heights,” Trump said. “This is something very important to them—and very important to us.”
Trump confirmed that a strategic defense agreement had just been signed between the two nations. The deal will deepen military cooperation, including joint training, weapons sales, and regional security coordination.
One of the biggest developments is Trump’s plan to approve the sale of U.S. F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. “They want to buy them,” Trump said. “They’ve been a great ally.”
In return, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pledged to increase Saudi investment in the United States from $600 billion to nearly $1 trillion, a figure that would represent nearly the entire Saudi sovereign wealth fund.
The designation marks a sharp shift from the Biden administration’s strained relationship with the Saudis, which was shaped by criticism over human rights abuses and the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Trump has instead focused on boosting defense ties and strengthening the economic partnership.
Saudi Arabia has also expressed interest in joining the Abraham Accords, but has said it will not normalize relations with Israel until a clear path toward a two-state solution for Palestinians is in place.
Saudi Arabia was part of a coalition that backed the Trump-brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The agreement outlines conditions for ending the war in Gaza and lays the groundwork for a future Palestinian state.
Some security analysts and lawmakers have raised concerns about Saudi Arabia’s existing defense relationships with China. Critics fear that allowing Saudi Arabia access to U.S. military assets like the F-35 could pose risks if technology is shared with Beijing.
Despite those concerns, Trump’s decision formally places Saudi Arabia among the ranks of America’s closest security partners. The move signals continued U.S. alignment with Riyadh on energy, regional diplomacy, and defense strategy.
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