World
Saudi Crown Prince to visit Trump this month, White House confirms
The visit is expected to focus on expanding strategic and defense ties, as well as discussions on Saudi Arabia potentially joining the Abraham Accords.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will pay an official working visit to Washington on November 18 for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, a White House official confirmed Monday.
The visit is expected to focus on expanding strategic and defense ties, as well as discussions on Saudi Arabia potentially joining the Abraham Accords — the normalization framework between Israel and several Arab states first brokered by Trump in 2020.
During that period, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco signed agreements establishing diplomatic relations with Israel. Riyadh has so far withheld from joining, citing the need for tangible progress toward Palestinian statehood.
In an interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes on Sunday, Trump said he believed the Saudis would “eventually join” the accords, adding that ongoing dialogue with Riyadh was “encouraging.”
The two leaders are also expected to review a potential U.S.–Saudi defense agreement. According to a senior administration official, “discussions about signing something when the Crown Prince comes are ongoing, but details remain in flux.”
Reports suggest the deal could include formal U.S. security guarantees for the Kingdom and permission for Saudi Arabia to acquire advanced American weaponry.
Saudi Arabia remains one of Washington’s closest defense partners and a leading purchaser of U.S. arms. The two nations’ long-standing partnership — oil for security — has been a cornerstone of Middle East relations for decades.
Earlier this year, during Trump’s visit to Riyadh, the U.S. finalized an arms package worth nearly $142 billion, underscoring the depth of the defense relationship.
Analysts say the upcoming visit marks a significant moment for both leaders: for Trump, a chance to reinforce his foreign policy agenda centered on Middle East normalization; and for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, an opportunity to solidify Riyadh’s global influence amid shifting regional alliances.