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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Meets Trump to Strengthen US Ties
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets US President Trump to strengthen cooperation on oil, security, trade, AI, and civilian nuclear energy—his first US visit since 2018.
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by Muhammad Hashir
2025-11-17
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Meets Trump to Strengthen US Ties

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited the White House on Monday for high-level talks with US President Donald Trump, focusing on expanding cooperation in oil, security, trade, technology, and civilian nuclear energy. This marks the crown prince’s first visit to the United States since 2018, when global relations were strained following the killing of Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul.

While US intelligence has indicated that the crown prince approved Khashoggi’s killing, Mohammed bin Salman has denied directly ordering the murder but accepted responsibility as a ruler. Despite the controversy, both nations appear intent on moving forward, emphasizing strategic and economic interests over past human rights concerns.

Defense and Security Cooperation

The meeting highlighted Saudi Arabia’s interest in security guarantees amid regional tensions. Historically, the US and Saudi Arabia have maintained a defense relationship where the kingdom supplies oil at discounted rates in exchange for American security support. Analysts note, however, that full Congressional approval for a new defense deal is contingent on Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel. In the interim, Trump could provide limited defense assistance through executive orders.

Trade, Technology, and Nuclear Energy

Mohammed bin Salman emphasized expanding US cooperation in advanced technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, to support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative. Access to advanced computer chips and AI resources would allow the kingdom to strengthen its global position and compete with regional rivals such as the UAE.

Additionally, discussions focused on the Saudi civilian nuclear program, which would diversify energy sources and enhance Saudi Arabia’s strategic positioning in the region. Analysts suggest that even if a full nuclear agreement is not immediately reached, a progress statement or framework agreement could pave the way for deeper cooperation.

Economic Opportunities

President Trump is reportedly seeking to capitalize on a $600 billion Saudi investment pledge made during his May visit to Riyadh. The White House appears focused on leveraging economic and technological ties to solidify US-Saudi relations, leaving human rights issues largely unaddressed during the visit.

The White House meetings mark a renewed phase in US-Saudi relations, emphasizing strategic and economic priorities while navigating sensitive political and regional dynamics. Both sides appear committed to strengthening bilateral cooperation, with trade, technology, and security forming the core of ongoing discussions.
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