US President Donald Trump greets Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the South Lawn at the White House. (November 18, 2025)
Saudi Crown Prince arrives at White House
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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived at the White House to fanfare and a jet flyover Tuesday, in his first visit to the United States since 2018.
US President Donald Trump greeted the prince upon his arrival, flanked by top US and Saudi officials, with a group of fighter jets flying over before the two leaders walked inside.
The visit is expected to include the signing of agreements in the defense and energy sectors.
Push for Normalization and F-35 Sale
Trump is expected to press the Crown Prince to normalize relations with ‘Israel’, seeking to expand the Abraham Accords that saw several Arab countries normalize ties with ‘Israel’ in 2020.
Trump expressed confidence on Monday about the arms sale, telling reporters at the White House, "We will do that, we will sell F-35 fighters. They [the Saudis] have been a great ally."
A Saudi source familiar with the negotiations told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that Saudi Arabia and the United States will sign a "framework agreement for civil nuclear cooperation" during the visit.
Saudi Demands and Regional Context
Trump said Friday that MBS's visit would be "more than just a meeting," referring to it as an "honor" for Saudi Arabia, the essential US ally in the region.
The initial steps toward normalization, which included discussions over security guarantees and energy deals, were suspended following the events of Oct. 7, 2023.
Riyadh does not appear ready to move forward without progress toward establishing a Palestinian state, its publicly declared condition for normalization, a prospect that ‘Israel’ still rejects.
MBS will also seek US defense guarantees, including sophisticated air and missile defense systems.
Experts say Riyadh is also seeking high-tech chips needed to support its ambitious Artificial Intelligence projects, a key part of the Crown Prince's economic diversification plan.
Washington, in turn, will demand guarantees from Riyadh that its ally China will not gain access to this sensitive technology.
