Saudi Arabia’s crown prince is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, aiming to reinforce long-standing cooperation on oil and security while expanding collaboration into technology, commerce and potentially nuclear energy.
It marks Mohammed bin Salman’s first U.S. visit since the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, an incident that drew international backlash. U.S. intelligence agencies later assessed that the crown prince approved the mission, which he denies ordering, though he acknowledges responsibility as the kingdom’s de facto leader.
Seven years on, Washington and Riyadh appear focused on resetting relations. Trump hopes to advance a $600 billion Saudi investment commitment announced during his 2017 visit to the kingdom. Human-rights issues, which he avoided then, are expected to remain unaddressed.
Riyadh, meanwhile, is seeking firm security guarantees as regional tensions rise, along with access to advanced U.S. technology and progress on a civilian nuclear-energy framework.
Analysts say both sides have moved past the Khashoggi fallout. For decades, the U.S.–Saudi relationship has been built on an exchange of affordable oil for American security protection. That balance was shaken after Washington declined to retaliate for Iran’s 2019 strike on Saudi oil facilities, and again when Israel launched an attack on Doha in September, citing action against Hamas.
Following that incident, Trump signed an executive-order defence arrangement with Qatar. Observers believe a similar agreement for Saudi Arabia is likely, although it would fall short of the full, Congress-ratified pact Riyadh wants. Washington has tied such a treaty to Saudi-Israeli normalization, which Riyadh says depends on Israeli steps toward Palestinian statehood—something Prime Minister Netanyahu continues to oppose.
Experts expect any U.S.–Saudi defence order to focus on immediate consultation and support in the event of threats, without guaranteeing direct U.S. military intervention. Support could include replacing arms, deploying defensive missile systems or naval assets, and, in some cases, participating in offensive operations.
Beyond security, MBS is pushing for U.S. partnerships in AI and nuclear energy as part of his Vision 2030 diversification plan. Access to high-end chips is crucial for Saudi ambitions to rival the UAE, which recently secured a major U.S. data-center deal. Riyadh also seeks an agreement enabling a Saudi civilian nuclear program, which would require U.S. cooperation and security frameworks.
Negotiations have been difficult due to U.S. demands that Saudi Arabia forgo uranium enrichment and fuel reprocessing—steps that reduce proliferation risks. Still, analysts expect at least an announcement of progress, if not a finalized nuclear-energy accord.
