Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), is visiting the White House on Tuesday to meet U.S. President Donald Trump, aiming to strengthen longstanding cooperation on oil and security while exploring opportunities in commerce, technology, and civilian nuclear energy.
This marks MBS’s first U.S. trip since the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents in Istanbul, which drew global condemnation. While U.S. intelligence concluded MBS approved Khashoggi’s capture or killing, the crown prince has denied ordering the operation but accepted responsibility as the kingdom’s de facto ruler.
Trump is expected to focus on advancing a $600 billion Saudi investment pledge made during his visit to the kingdom in May, avoiding human rights discussions. Meanwhile, MBS seeks U.S. security guarantees amid regional instability, access to artificial intelligence technology, and progress toward a civilian nuclear program.
On Monday, Trump confirmed plans to approve the sale of advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, a move that could shift the military balance in the Middle East and test Washington’s longstanding commitment to Israel’s “qualitative military edge.” Analysts say this represents a symbolic “page turned” on the Khashoggi incident.
The U.S. and Saudi Arabia have historically exchanged favorable oil pricing for security support. However, this arrangement was strained after Iran attacked Saudi oil installations in 2019, and regional tensions resurfaced following Israel’s strike on Qatar in September. Trump recently signed a defense pact with Qatar, fueling expectations for a similar executive order with Saudi Arabia, although it may fall short of Riyadh’s desired full defense agreement.
MBS is also seeking deals in nuclear energy and AI as part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan to diversify its economy and strengthen its position relative to regional rivals, particularly the UAE and Iran. Negotiations on nuclear cooperation have been challenging, as the U.S. requires assurances that Saudi Arabia will not enrich uranium or reprocess spent fuel.
Experts expect that the visit could result in announcements on defense cooperation, progress toward a civilian nuclear deal, and potential technology agreements, reflecting a broader effort to expand U.S.-Saudi ties beyond oil and security.
