Visit of Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the United States (2025)

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s official visit to Washington on 18 November 2025. The visit is the first official visit by Prince Salman to the United States since 2018. The agenda includes defense, economy, energy and Gaza.

During the meeting between Trump and Salman, the goal is to expand economic partnerships between the two countries. It has been stated that the parties will sign a “strategic economic partnership agreement” encompassing various U.S. and Saudi ministries.

The Saudi side has been reported to prioritize digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing technologies under its Vision 2030 program, allocating a budget of approximately $20 billion for data centers.

One of the topics to be addressed during the visit is Gaza and the Palestinian issue. It has been expressed that U.S. President Trump desires Saudi Arabia’s participation in the Abraham Accords. The Riyadh administration, however, has emphasized that it will not take any step toward diplomatic normalization with Israel without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Welcoming Ceremony

The welcoming ceremony held at the White House was conducted with a comprehensive protocol reflecting the diplomatic significance of the visit. An official ceremony was organized where the flags of the United States and Saudi Arabia were displayed together as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was received by U.S. President Donald Trump. The ceremony was accompanied by mounted units, a military band and artillery salutes; an air display featuring three F-35 and three F-16 fighter jets took place over South Lawn.

President Trump and Prince Salman shook hands at the South Portico of the White House and posed for the press before proceeding to meetings in the Oval Office.

Defense Cooperation and F-35 Sale

One of the prominent topics during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Washington visit is defense cooperation. One of the most notable agenda items in the talks is the United States’ plan to sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia.

On 17 November 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he is approaching positively the long-standing Saudi request for F-35 fighter jets. Trump said, “I plan to do this. They are excellent allies. Look at Iran’s situation, look at what we have done to eliminate their nuclear capabilities. Yes, I can tell you we will sell them the F-35s.”

The proposed sale has the potential to significantly enhance Saudi Arabia’s defense capabilities. However, assessments regarding the sale have not been limited to the U.S. executive branch but have also been examined at the Pentagon and U.S. Senate levels. Some U.S. defense officials have warned that the sale could pose security risks due to the sensitive technology involved in the F-35 platform. Particular concerns have been raised that this technology could be shared with China.

Additionally, concerns have emerged that the sale could undermine Israel’s “qualitative military edge” in the region. Under U.S. law, arms sales to the Middle East must not jeopardize Israel’s security. Israel has expressed its desire to link any potential F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia’s step toward diplomatic normalization with Israel. However, the Riyadh administration has stated it will not take such a step without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

The Trump administration announced that a defense cooperation agreement was reached during the visit; the agreement includes cooperation in air and missile defense systems, space technologies, maritime security and communications. The F-35 sale is viewed as part of this broader framework of defense cooperation.

Economic Cooperation and Investments

Strengthening economic relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia was one of the key agenda items during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Washington visit on 18 November 2025. It has been stated that the parties will sign a “strategic economic partnership agreement” encompassing various U.S. and Saudi ministries.

U.S. President Donald Trump, in remarks made in the Oval Office, praised Saudi Arabia’s investments in the United States and indicated that the current $60 billion investment commitment could be raised to $1 trillion. Trump said, “Now it’s $1 trillion, okay. It’s good that you announced it because I would not have wanted to say it.” Crown Prince Salman stated that these investments represent “real opportunities” and were not created merely to please America or President Trump.

Saudi Arabia, in line with its “Vision 2030” strategy, prioritizes digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing technologies, and data centers. It has been stated that approximately $20 billion has been allocated specifically for data centers. During the visit, new cooperation projects between the two countries in these areas were expected to be introduced.

It has also been reported that Saudi Arabia announced numerous investment projects targeting sectors in the United States such as artificial intelligence data centers, energy infrastructure, advanced technology products, healthcare supply chains, commercial aircraft, and the sports industry.

During the visit, the activities of the Trump Organization in Saudi Arabia also came up. President Trump stated regarding his family’s business operations: “Whatever my family does is appropriate. They do business everywhere. In fact, they have done very little business with Saudi Arabia, but they could do much more if they wished.” He emphasized that he has no involvement in their business affairs.

Overall, the visit provided a comprehensive framework for long-term economic partnerships between the two countries across numerous sectors, with energy, technology, and finance leading the way.

The Gaza and Palestine Issue

One of the key agenda items discussed during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s March 2025 visit to Washington was the Gaza and Palestine issue. During the visit, it was noted that U.S. President Donald Trump encouraged Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords. However, the Riyadh administration emphasized the need for a “credible roadmap” toward the establishment of an independent Palestinian state as a prerequisite for any diplomatic normalization step.

In his remarks, Crown Prince Salman stated that Israelis and Palestinians must live together “in peace in the region,” reiterated Saudi Arabia’s desire to join the Abraham Accords, but stressed that this process must proceed on the basis of a two-state solution. The Prince used the phrase: “We want Israel and Palestine to live together in peace.”

U.S. President Trump said that a healthy discussion took place between the two leaders on this issue and that “one state, two states... many issues” were addressed. He also expressed that he believed Saudi Arabia was approaching the process positively.

The Israeli side, however, continues to maintain its opposition to a Palestinian state. Shortly before the visit, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared: “For us, Gaza will be demilitarized and Hamas will be disarmed, by easy means or hard means. We are against the idea of a Palestinian state.”

Saudi Arabia, as previously stated, continues to play an active role in efforts to end the conflict in Gaza, disarm Hamas, and rebuild Gaza. However, it emphasizes that such contributions must be tied to the recognition of the Palestinian people’s right to sovereignty. During the visit, it was reported that a comprehensive approach to regional peace was discussed within this framework.

The Jamal Khashoggi Killing and Diplomatic Repercussions

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Washington on 18 November 2025 marked his first official meeting with the United States since the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on 2 October 2018. Khashoggi’s murder generated widespread international outrage and subjected the Saudi leadership to serious diplomatic pressure. A U.S. intelligence report dated 2021 concluded that Crown Prince Salman had approved the operation.

The issue resurfaced during the visit and was directly raised by journalists at a press briefing at the White House. U.S. President Donald Trump defended Prince Salman, saying: “The person you are referring to was extremely controversial; many people did not like this gentleman. Whether you liked him or not, something happened, but the prince knew nothing about it. We can close this matter here.” Trump also criticized an ABC News reporter’s question on the topic, stating: “We do not need to embarrass our guest.”

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, regarding Khashoggi’s death, stated: “Regarding the journalist, it is deeply tragic that people die for nothing. This was extremely painful for Saudi Arabia. But since then, we have taken all the correct steps. We have improved our systems to ensure such a thing never happens again. This is a tragic incident, a massive mistake, and we are doing everything in our power to prevent it from ever occurring again.”

During the visit, Kaşıkçı’s wife, Hanan Elatr Khashoggi, made a public statement, calling on Prince Salman to apologize and offer compensation. Elatr stated, “There was no justification for my husband’s murder. If the Crown Prince has apologized, he must meet with me and make amends for this murder.”