President Donald Trump elevated Saudi Arabia to major non-NATO ally status during a lavish White House dinner Tuesday evening, marking a significant milestone in US-Saudi relations as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman completed his first Washington visit in more than seven years.
The surprise announcement came before a crowd of corporate titans and dignitaries in the East Room, with Trump describing the designation as something very important to the kingdom.
The historic move grants Saudi Arabia preferential access to advanced military equipment, priority delivery of defense surplus, and participation in joint research and development programs with the Pentagon.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pledged to increase Saudi investments in the United States from $600 billion to nearly $1 trillion, encompassing defense contracts, civil nuclear cooperation, artificial intelligence initiatives, and critical mineral partnerships.
What Does Major Non-NATO Ally Status Actually Mean
Major non-NATO ally status provides Saudi Arabia with significant military and economic privileges without entailing any security commitments from the United States.
The designation allows the kingdom to purchase depleted uranium anti-tank rounds, access War Reserve Stocks of Department of Defense-owned equipment, and receive expedited export processing for advanced space technology.
Saudi contractors can now bid on Pentagon contracts for the repair and maintenance of American military equipment stationed outside the United States.
The status also enables Saudi Arabia to enter into cooperative research and development projects with the Defense Department on a shared cost basis and participate in certain counterterrorism initiatives.
According to the State Department, countries with this designation receive priority for loans of material, supplies, and equipment for cooperative evaluation purposes.
The kingdom joins 19 other nations, including Japan, South Korea, Australia, and four Middle Eastern countries, with this privileged status.
Did you know?
Article 5 is the core principle of collective defense, stating that an "attack on one is an attack on all." Despite decades of Cold War tension, it has been invoked only once in history: on September 12, 2001, less than 24 hours after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States.
How Much is Saudi Arabia Investing in America
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced during his Oval Office meeting with Trump that Saudi Arabia would increase its planned investment commitments from $600 billion to almost $1 trillion of real investment and real opportunity across multiple sectors.
The investment package includes major defense purchases such as F-35 stealth fighter jets and nearly 300 Abrams tanks, which Trump described as safeguarding hundreds of American jobs.
When questioned about sustaining such large commitments amid lower oil prices, the crown prince suggested the deals align with Saudi Arabia's broader development plans.
The two leaders signed multiple agreements, including a Strategic Defense Agreement, a Joint Declaration on Civil Nuclear Energy Cooperation, a Critical Minerals Framework, and an Artificial Intelligence Memorandum of Understanding.
Trump welcomed the announcement enthusiastically, stating he liked the trillion-dollar commitment very much.
The president also repeated his claim that his combination of trade pressure and diplomacy would generate $21 trillion in investment commitments by the end of the year.
Will Israel Lose Its Military Edge in the Region
Trump confirmed the United States would sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia despite Israeli concerns about maintaining its qualitative military edge in the Middle East.
The sale, once finalized, would end Israel's exclusive status as the sole F-35 operator in the region and reshape the military balance.
Riyadh formally requested up to 48 of the fifth-generation stealth aircraft, which Trump said would be pretty similar to those supplied to Israel.
When asked how the administration planned to uphold Israel's advantage while approving the same advanced aircraft for Saudi Arabia, Trump replied that both countries remain close US partners.
He turned to Crown Prince Mohammed and acknowledged that Israel would have preferred Saudi Arabia receive planes of reduced caliber before adding that such a compromise would not make the crown prince too happy.
Trump concluded by stating that both countries are at a level where they should get top-of-the-line equipment.
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Did Trump Address the Khashoggi Controversy
The visit marked Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's first White House appearance since the 2018 killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
US intelligence concluded that the crown prince likely approved the operation to capture or kill Khashoggi, with the CIA assessing he had absolute control over security and intelligence organizations.
When questioned about the murder during the visit, Trump dismissed it by saying things happen and that the crown prince knew nothing about it.
Trump praised Mohammed bin Salman's human rights record, stating that what he has done is incredible in terms of human rights and everything else.
The crown prince told reporters that Saudi Arabia had taken all the right steps to investigate Khashoggi's death, describing it as painful and a huge mistake.
The CIA assessment from 2018 indicated it was highly unlikely Saudi officials would have carried out an operation of this nature without the crown prince's authorization, given his control over decision-making in the kingdom since 2017.
Who Attended the Lavish White House Dinner
The black tie dinner in the East Room featured an impressive roster of guests, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, marking his first major White House appearance since his bitter public feud with Trump ended in June.
The two had clashed over Trump's budget bill, with Musk attacking it as fiscally reckless and Trump threatening to cut federal subsidies to Musk's companies.
They were last seen together in September at a memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Other notable attendees included Apple CEO Tim Cook, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, and Portuguese soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
Trump introduced his son Barron to Ronaldo during the evening, joking that meeting the football legend made Barron respect his father a little bit more.
The crown prince received an elaborate display of ceremony upon arrival at the White House, including a military honor guard, a cannon salute, and a flyover by US warplanes on the South Lawn.
The designation of Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally represents a strategic realignment in US Middle East policy, prioritizing economic partnerships and defense cooperation over human rights concerns.
As the kingdom commits nearly $1 trillion to American investments and gains access to cutting-edge military technology, the move signals Trump's transactional approach to foreign policy.
The coming months will reveal whether this elevated partnership delivers the promised economic benefits while managing regional security dynamics and addressing lingering questions about accountability for past controversies.
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