On November 18, 2025, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) touched down in Washington, D.C., for what would become one of the most high-profile diplomatic visits of the year. His arrival—just a day after the United Nations Security Council passed a U.S.-backed resolution to deploy an International Stabilisation Force (ISF) in Gaza—set the stage for a series of discussions and deals that could reshape the Middle East’s political and economic landscape for years to come.
The White House, pulling out all the stops, welcomed MBS with ceremonial honors rarely seen in recent years. Marching bands, flag-bearing horsemen, and a dramatic military flyover signaled a clear message: Washington now regards Riyadh as a crucial partner, eager to turn a new page after years of tension. According to Hindustan Times, the spectacle was “almost akin to a State visit, laden with fanfare and red carpet.”
At the heart of the visit were talks between MBS and President Donald Trump—no strangers to each other, having cultivated a relationship since 2017. Their agenda was packed: investment, defense, regional stability, artificial intelligence, and technological cooperation. The two leaders even held a brief press interaction at the South Portico, underscoring the visit’s transparency and significance.
One of the most headline-grabbing outcomes was Trump’s announcement that the United States would recognize Saudi Arabia as a “major non-NATO ally,” a designation shared by only 19 other countries, including Israel, Australia, and South Korea. This status paves the way for deeper military cooperation, joint exercises, and access to advanced weaponry. As Observer Research Foundation analyst Col Rajeev Agarwal (Retired) noted, “Saudi Arabia joined the other 19 nations previously given this designation which include Egypt, Israel, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Qatar from the region besides countries like Pakistan.”
But it was the defense deals that truly turned heads. The U.S. authorized the sale of 48 F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, making it the first Arab nation to acquire the aircraft in the same configuration as Israel—a move previously deemed off-limits due to concerns over Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge (QME). While this deal was celebrated as historic, it also raised eyebrows: Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu swiftly declared that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had assured him Israel’s QME would not be compromised. Many analysts, including those cited by ORF, questioned whether the deal would ever fully materialize, given the region’s sensitivities and the long timelines typical of such military procurements.
Beyond defense, the visit produced a cascade of economic and technological agreements. At the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum at the Kennedy Center, dozens of deals were inked in the presence of both leaders. Saudi AI firm HUMAIN finalized a landmark purchase of 600,000 Nvidia AI chips, a move seen as vital for the Kingdom’s ambitious Vision 2030 modernization plan. Elon Musk, not one to miss a strategic opportunity, agreed to construct a 500-megawatt facility and data center in Saudi Arabia, along with a rare-earth refinery. Oil giant Saudi Aramco signed 17 Memoranda of Understanding with major U.S. companies, with deals valued at nearly $30 billion.
Saudi Arabia didn’t stop there. MBS signaled plans for long-term investment in the U.S. economy, with estimates starting at $600 billion and potentially rising to a staggering $1 trillion. These investments target key sectors such as infrastructure, technology, and industry, promising to expand market access for American businesses and create new opportunities for exporters and workers alike. As ORF reported, “Saudi Arabia announced a $1 trillion investment into vital sectors of the US like infrastructure, technology, and industry, raising it from the $600 billion initially secured during the President’s May visit earlier this year.”
The two countries also advanced negotiations on a civil-nuclear cooperation framework, signing a Joint Declaration that could eventually lead to a so-called ‘123 Agreement’—allowing the transfer of U.S. civilian nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia. However, as Hindustan Times pointed out, such an agreement requires Congressional approval and would not grant Saudi Arabia uranium enrichment technology, keeping the Kingdom dependent on U.S. expertise for the foreseeable future.
Meanwhile, the visit unfolded against a backdrop of shifting regional power dynamics. China’s economic and diplomatic footprint in the Gulf continues to grow, while Russia remains a major player through its role in OPEC+ and as an arms supplier. The U.S. and Europe, for their part, are scrambling to counterbalance these influences through initiatives like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), though tangible results remain elusive.
Recent shocks have only heightened the sense of urgency. The fall of the Assad regime in Syria in December 2024, Israeli strikes in Qatar in June 2025, and Iran’s violation of Qatari airspace have all underscored Riyadh’s need for reliable security partnerships. This urgency is reflected in Saudi Arabia’s signing of a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement with Pakistan in September 2025.
Yet, for all the pomp and promise, the visit also laid bare the limits of U.S.-Saudi rapprochement. Most notably, the defense deal fell short of providing the “ironclad” security guarantees that Riyadh has sought—guarantees similar to those offered to Qatar after Israeli missile strikes earlier in the year. As ORF observed, “without an Article 5 of NATO like security guarantee, Saudi Arabia will always be unsure of US assurances on security.”
On the diplomatic front, MBS signaled potential progress on Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords—an initiative aimed at normalizing relations between Israel and Arab states. However, he was clear: “We want to be part of the Abraham Accords, but we also want to be sure that [we] secure a clear path [toward a] two-State solution (for Palestine).” With Israeli leadership ruling out such a possibility for now, the prospect of Saudi Arabia joining the Accords in the near future remains remote.
The fragile ceasefire in Gaza, established on October 10, 2025, as part of the U.S.-sponsored ‘20 Point Trump Peace Plan,’ has held so far. Israeli forces have pulled back to a designated ‘Yellow Line,’ and critical aid is trickling into Gaza, albeit in limited quantities. The return of living and deceased hostages has offered some measure of relief, but the long-term prospects for peace remain uncertain. The next steps hinge on the deployment of the ISF, the disarming of Hamas, and the establishment of a technocratic Palestinian committee to govern Gaza, supervised by an international “Board of Peace” chaired by President Trump.
Iran, meanwhile, remains a wildcard. While the rivalry between Tehran and Riyadh has cooled since their 2023 peace deal, suspicion and caution still prevail across the Gulf. Iran’s rebuilding efforts, its support for groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, and its ongoing arms deals with Russia and China all factor into the region’s complex security equation.
Looking ahead, the November 2025 visit appears less about ceremonial optics and more about redefining the strategic alignment between Washington and Riyadh. Both nations are recalibrating their roles in a Middle East marked by volatility, opportunity, and shifting alliances. As the dust settles, one thing is clear: the stakes—for peace, prosperity, and power—have never been higher.
