Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made a return visit to the United Statea on Tuesday, marking his first since the international uproar over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
President Donald Trump received the Crown Prince at the White House, opening a new chapter in a partnership that both leaders are eager to reshape around strategic deals and regional influence.
The meeting — described by senior U.S. officials as “one of the most consequential diplomatic engagements” of Trump’s second term — places a spotlight on a relationship long defined by security cooperation, vast investments, and shared geopolitical goals.
According to White House aides, the talks will span a broad agenda: multi-billion-dollar Saudi investments in U.S. artificial intelligence infrastructure, expanded defense cooperation, and negotiations over civil nuclear energy projects. The discussions also revisit a series of deals signed in Trump’s visits to the Gulf earlier this year, in which Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE pledged trillions toward American economic and energy initiatives.
Trump’s personal and political ties to the Saudi leadership continue to draw scrutiny, with critics highlighting overlapping business interests across the Middle East — from luxury properties in Dubai and Jeddah to joint real-estate ventures linked to the Trump Organization. Yet both sides maintain that the visit is primarily about strengthening strategic cooperation.
Ahead of the Crown Prince’s arrival, Trump confirmed that the U.S. is prepared to sell Saudi Arabia dozens of F-35 fighter jets, a move that has prompted concern within parts of the Pentagon over the aircraft’s sensitive technology. The proposed deal, expected to cost billions, would further solidify the kingdom as one of Washington’s most important defense clients.
Nuclear cooperation is also high on the agenda. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright recently signaled that negotiations could grant Saudi Arabia access to nuclear technology for civilian energy production — an offer that would reshape the kingdom’s long-term energy strategy and accelerate components of its Vision 2030 economic transformation plan.
Regional diplomacy, particularly in relation to Israel, remains another pivotal point. Trump has continued to push for Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel,
