Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Cement $1 Trillion-Plus Deals in High-Profile White House Summit
Historic Washington meeting sees major defence, investment and US–Saudi strategic commitments, as personal rapport between the leaders takes centre stage
President Donald Trump welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House on 18 November 2025, concluding a summit marked by sweeping agreements on defence, investment and cooperation — and punctuated by high-level ceremony and personal camaraderie.
The two leaders signed a sweeping new Strategic Defense Agreement, under which the United States will deepen military cooperation with Saudi Arabia.
Riyadh also received formal approval for sales of advanced F-35 fighter jets.
During the visit, the Kingdom committed to increasing its investment in the U.S. economy from a previously pledged $600 billion to nearly $1 trillion, targeting sectors including energy, critical minerals, technology and manufacturing.
Other memoranda address civil nuclear cooperation, expanded U.S.–Saudi collaboration on financial rules and trade, and agreements to strengthen supply chains and industrial ties.
The White House described the package as a landmark achievement for American jobs, supply-chain security, and regional deterrence.
The meeting — the first White House visit by the Crown Prince since 2018 — was accompanied by full state-level pageantry: a military fly-over, mounted honour guards and a black-tie dinner featuring business and cultural figures.
Trump dismissed renewed questions about the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, asserting the Crown Prince “knew nothing” of the intelligence agencies’ findings and calling the coverage “embarrassing.”
The summit also touched on regional geopolitics: both leaders discussed ongoing tensions in the Middle East, including potential future normalisation between Saudi Arabia and Israel — though Riyadh reiterated its insistence on a clear pathway to Palestinian statehood before any formal move.
Critics argue the White House’s embrace overlooks human-rights concerns, yet supporters say the outcomes advance U.S. strategic, economic and defence interests.
For now, the meeting stands as a defining moment in U.S.–Saudi relations — one that reinforces alliance dynamics, deepens economic interdependence and underlines the personal diplomacy at the heart of the new era of cooperation.
The two leaders signed a sweeping new Strategic Defense Agreement, under which the United States will deepen military cooperation with Saudi Arabia.
Riyadh also received formal approval for sales of advanced F-35 fighter jets.
During the visit, the Kingdom committed to increasing its investment in the U.S. economy from a previously pledged $600 billion to nearly $1 trillion, targeting sectors including energy, critical minerals, technology and manufacturing.
Other memoranda address civil nuclear cooperation, expanded U.S.–Saudi collaboration on financial rules and trade, and agreements to strengthen supply chains and industrial ties.
The White House described the package as a landmark achievement for American jobs, supply-chain security, and regional deterrence.
The meeting — the first White House visit by the Crown Prince since 2018 — was accompanied by full state-level pageantry: a military fly-over, mounted honour guards and a black-tie dinner featuring business and cultural figures.
Trump dismissed renewed questions about the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, asserting the Crown Prince “knew nothing” of the intelligence agencies’ findings and calling the coverage “embarrassing.”
The summit also touched on regional geopolitics: both leaders discussed ongoing tensions in the Middle East, including potential future normalisation between Saudi Arabia and Israel — though Riyadh reiterated its insistence on a clear pathway to Palestinian statehood before any formal move.
Critics argue the White House’s embrace overlooks human-rights concerns, yet supporters say the outcomes advance U.S. strategic, economic and defence interests.
For now, the meeting stands as a defining moment in U.S.–Saudi relations — one that reinforces alliance dynamics, deepens economic interdependence and underlines the personal diplomacy at the heart of the new era of cooperation.
