Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is set to make a landmark visit to Washington, D.C., on November 18 and 19, 2025, marking his first trip to the U.S. capital since 2018. According to The Wall Street Journal, the visit comes just weeks after a fragile ceasefire took hold in Gaza, setting the stage for high-stakes diplomacy that could reshape alliances and economic ties across the Middle East.
The crown prince, commonly known as MBS, last visited the United States in early 2018, months before the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi—a killing that, according to the CIA, he likely ordered, though the prince continues to deny any involvement. The shadow of that event still looms large, but the world has changed in the intervening years, and so have the stakes for U.S.-Saudi relations.
The agenda for this November meeting is ambitious. As reported by The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg, the Biden administration is expected to unveil a new defense cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia. This deal, which could be enacted by executive order, would enhance weapons sales, intelligence sharing, and joint planning against common threats, especially from Iran. While the agreement would fall short of a formal treaty, it signals a deepening of strategic ties. The U.S. recently entered a similar pact with Qatar, and Saudi Arabia has been pushing for comparable guarantees for its own security.
But the diplomatic dance doesn’t end with defense. The two nations are also expected to sign agreements covering artificial intelligence, nuclear cooperation, and trade. These deals would further weave Saudi Arabia into the fabric of global commerce and technology, a key element of the kingdom’s Vision 2030—a sweeping plan to diversify its economy and reduce its dependence on oil.
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, championed by MBS, hinges on expanding business, technological, and security relationships with a range of partners, including Israel. According to Dr. Nirit Ofir, a Middle East expert at Reichman University and a seasoned facilitator of Israeli-Saudi contacts, the crown prince’s vision incorporates sectors such as cyber defense and fintech, where Israel is already a player. Ofir told Israel Hayom that “contacts between Israel and Saudi Arabia regarding normalization have never ceased, though the process remains gradual and deliberate.”
Indeed, the prospect of Saudi-Israeli normalization is a major subplot of the upcoming visit. While outright normalization is not expected to be finalized during this trip—and will not be a precondition for business or defense deals—discussions are very much on the table. Riyadh, for its part, is seeking a more formal U.S. commitment to the establishment of a Palestinian state as part of any normalization package. This demand is complicated by the staunch opposition of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the delicate state of the current Gaza ceasefire only adds to the uncertainty.
Yet, the momentum for rapprochement is building. A senior U.S. diplomat told Israel Hayom, “This isn’t a matter of gambling [on it happening], it’s geopolitics and economic interests—what should have happened long ago will occur shortly.” The diplomat predicted that within the coming year, likely before Israel’s 2026 elections, there will be substantial progress in Saudi-Israeli relations, if not full membership in the Abraham Accords then at least significant political and economic developments.
President Donald Trump, who met with MBS in May during a Middle East trip, has been vocal about his hopes for Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords. As reported by The Wall Street Journal, Trump recently told Fox News, “I hope to see Saudi Arabia go in, and I hope to see others go in.” His return to the White House has revived the possibility of a grand Middle East deal, one that would integrate Saudi Arabia more deeply into regional economic and security frameworks.
Security concerns, particularly regarding Iran and its proxies, remain a driving force behind these diplomatic efforts. During the June 2025 war with Iran, Saudi military helicopters reportedly intercepted Iranian drones en route to Israel—a striking example of the evolving security relationship between the two countries. According to Israel Hayom, intelligence from Hamas leadership revealed that one of the group’s objectives in launching the October 7, 2025, attack was to derail Saudi Arabia’s potential entry into the Abraham Accords. The attack, and the ensuing war, delayed but did not end the normalization process.
Throughout 2023 and into 2025, direct contacts between Saudi Arabia and Israel continued, including conversations between Netanyahu and MBS. In September 2025, these contacts reached a near breakthrough, with Netanyahu’s speech at the UN General Assembly—outlining a vision for a new Middle East—broadcast for the first time on Saudi television. However, the war’s outbreak put the brakes on formal progress, even as quiet diplomacy persisted behind the scenes.
The United Arab Emirates, meanwhile, has emerged as Israel’s steadfast regional partner. As a senior Israeli official told Israel Hayom, “The United Arab Emirates is Israel’s genuine Arab friend, demonstrated during the most difficult time, wartime.” Emirati airlines continued flights to Israel throughout the conflict and the UAE was quick to condemn the October 7 massacre. Both the UAE and Saudi Arabia maintain that Gaza’s rehabilitation is impossible while Hamas remains in control, yet both have provided significant humanitarian aid to Gazans since the war began. The UAE, for example, established clinics, field hospitals, and infrastructure in IDF-controlled territories, and initiated a water pipeline from Egypt to southern Gaza.
Economic interests are also at the heart of these shifting alliances. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Israel all see immense commercial potential in a more peaceful Middle East. The Dubai diamond exchange, established just two decades ago with Israeli help, is now the largest in the world. The region’s ports, commercial routes from East Asia to Europe, and potential oil and gas pipelines are all part of the grand vision for regional prosperity.
Another crucial dimension is the effort to de-radicalize Palestinian society. Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE have implemented educational, media, and cultural reforms aimed at reducing extremism. These programs are already being rolled out in temporary schools in IDF-controlled parts of Gaza, laying groundwork for a more stable future.
As the November summit approaches, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The outcome of MBS’s visit to Washington could set the tone for a new era of Middle Eastern diplomacy, one shaped by pragmatic interests, shared security concerns, and a cautious optimism for peace and prosperity. The path forward is fraught with challenges, but for now, the world is watching—and waiting to see what unfolds.
