Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, arrived in Washington this week for high-stakes talks with President Donald Trump, marking his first visit to the United States since the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The meeting, widely anticipated in both diplomatic and business circles, signaled Riyadh’s determination to reset and expand its engagement with Washington across defence, technology and investment, while also underscoring the complexities of regional security dynamics. Trump personally greeted the crown prince outside the White House, shaking hands as senior officials from both countries lined the entrance. A fighter jet fly-past marked the start of the ceremonial reception before the leaders moved inside the Oval Office for discussions expected to cover a sweeping package of agreements.
The atmosphere was a careful blend of pageantry and purpose: the appearance of Cristiano Ronaldo, the captain of Saudi football club Al-Nassr, drew international attention and reflected the kingdom’s desire to intertwine soft power with strategic diplomacy. At the heart of the visit was the potential conversion of Riyadh’s $600 billion investment pledge, announced during Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia in May, into concrete commitments across multiple sectors of the American economy. Key areas of focus include expanded defence procurement, support for American artificial intelligence infrastructure, and deeper cooperation on civil nuclear energy. Trump indicated that he was ready to approve the sale of advanced F-35 stealth fighter jets to the kingdom, a proposal that has already stirred concern among Israel, the sole operator of the aircraft in the Middle East.
According to reports, Israeli defence authorities have formally rejected the planned sale, warning that providing another state with such advanced stealth technology could undermine Israel’s long-standing air superiority. The Israeli military, which currently operates 45 F-35s and has ordered 30 more, has long viewed its qualitative edge as central to regional stability. A proposed acquisition of 48 jets by Saudi Arabia, analysts suggest, could fundamentally reshape the balance of military power in the Gulf and provoke new tensions within longstanding alliances. The visit also saw careful preparations on the US side. Trump, addressing reporters before the crown prince’s arrival, underscored his intention to push ahead with the F-35 sale and highlighted the formation of a taskforce for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, signaling an awareness of the broader political and symbolic stakes.
Trump also suggested the possible deployment of federal troops to cities he described as crime hotspots, reflecting his characteristic tendency to link security initiatives with high-profile international engagements. Beyond military hardware, the discussions aimed to cement broader strategic and economic ties. Washington hopes to secure commitments that would see Saudi investment extend into energy, infrastructure and technology sectors. The talks also include a focus on artificial intelligence development and civil nuclear energy, areas where both sides perceive mutual benefit but which carry considerable regulatory and security implications. For Riyadh, these deals represent an opportunity to modernize its economy and diversify its global partnerships, while for Washington, they offer potential economic infusion and reinforcement of strategic influence in the Middle East.
The stakes of the visit are amplified by its timing. Coming five years after the Khashoggi affair, the crown prince’s reception signals a pragmatic willingness in Washington to compartmentalize human rights concerns in favor of economic and security priorities. For Saudi Arabia, the engagement represents a chance to reassure international partners of its intentions and assert its regional and global influence. Analysts suggest the visit also serves as a signal to Tehran and other regional actors of a deepening US-Saudi alignment, with potential consequences for ongoing conflicts and geopolitical calculations across the Gulf. While commercial and investment arrangements dominate the public narrative, defence matters remain the most sensitive. Israeli officials, viewing the F-35 sale as a potential erosion of their military edge, have raised concerns about US policy consistency in the region.
Historically, Washington has treated Israel’s qualitative military advantage as central to its Middle East strategy, and any perceived shift risks complicating diplomatic ties with a key ally. At the same time, Saudi Arabia’s persistent requests for formal security guarantees from the United States reflect its longstanding strategic anxieties, particularly in the context of Iran’s regional ambitions. The visit, therefore, represents a delicate balancing act. Washington seeks to leverage Saudi investment and cooperation on emerging technologies while maintaining traditional security commitments to Israel. Riyadh, meanwhile, is navigating the complex dynamics of pursuing ambitious military acquisitions and economic partnerships without destabilizing its broader regional relationships.
The presence of high-profile figures such as Ronaldo highlights the kingdom’s awareness of the symbolic and media dimensions of diplomacy in the modern era, where perception and optics carry nearly as much weight as policy agreements. Following the Oval Office discussions, the crown prince is expected to participate in a series of events designed to reinforce both commercial and cultural ties between the two countries. The ultimate goal appears to be the formalization of Riyadh’s investment pledge and the cementing of a strategic partnership that spans defence, energy, technology and infrastructure. While details of specific agreements may remain under negotiation, the visit underscores a mutual desire to forge a deeper, more strategically aligned relationship, reflecting both the opportunities and tensions that define contemporary US-Saudi engagement.
In sum, Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Washington offers a vivid illustration of how economic ambition, military considerations, and personal diplomacy intersect on the global stage. For Saudi Arabia, it represents a chance to modernize its economy, secure advanced military capability, and project influence beyond the region. For the United States, it is an opportunity to draw substantial investment, advance technological cooperation, and navigate the intricate geopolitics of the Middle East. Yet, as the F-35 controversy demonstrates, the pursuit of strategic and economic goals remains inseparable from the complex realities of alliances, security imperatives, and the enduring sensitivities of regional power dynamics.
