United States President Donald Trump has formally designated Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally during a high-profile White House dinner hosted for Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday evening.
The designation represents a significant elevation in military cooperation between Washington and Riyadh, with Trump describing it as taking relations “to even greater heights.”
Speaking at the formal dinner, President Trump announced the decision for the first time, stating it was “very important” to the Kingdom. The announcement followed the signing of a historic US-Saudi Strategic Defense Agreement earlier in the day.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who serves as Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, arrived in Washington with approximately 1,000 delegates, including top ministers and business leaders. The visit marked his first return to the United States capital in seven years.
During the meeting, the Crown Prince announced Saudi Arabia would increase its planned investment in the United States from $600 billion to $1 trillion. Trump welcomed this development, noting it would create significant employment opportunities for Americans.
The major non-NATO ally designation places Saudi Arabia alongside 19 other nations, including Israel, Japan, and several Middle Eastern countries such as Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, and Jordan. This status provides enhanced defense cooperation privileges without requiring mutual defense treaty obligations.
President Trump also confirmed plans to sell advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, making the Kingdom the first Middle Eastern country besides Israel to acquire the stealth aircraft. The White House indicated Saudi Arabia would purchase nearly 300 American tanks as part of the broader defense package.
On the Abraham Accords, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed Saudi Arabia’s interest in joining the peace initiative but emphasized the need for “a clear path” toward a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. The Crown Prince stated they want to ensure proper preparation “as soon as possible” for Palestinian statehood before joining the accords.
The visit featured elaborate White House ceremonies, including a military flyover, marching bands, and a red carpet reception on the South Lawn. The formal dinner in the East Room drew notable attendees including Vice President J.D. Vance, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Apple CEO Tim Cook, and technology entrepreneur Elon Musk.
The agreements signed during the visit encompass defense cooperation, civil nuclear energy partnership, artificial intelligence collaboration, and critical minerals framework, signaling deepened strategic ties between the two nations.