CaliToday (24/11/2025): President Donald Trump is set to welcome Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) to Washington on November 18, 2025, marking the Prince’s second visit in seven years. The meeting, described by President Trump as "more than a meeting," signals the U.S.'s determined effort to enhance regional security, solidify trade relations, and aggressively pursue Saudi-Israeli normalization within the framework of the Abraham Accords.
Speaking aboard Air Force One on November 14, President Trump emphasized the importance of the relationship: “We are honoring Saudi Arabia.” He stated that a major topic of discussion would be the Abraham Accords the series of normalization agreements signed between Israel and several Arab nations in late 2020. President Trump expressed a clear aspiration: “I look forward to Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords soon.”
However, the political path remains complex. Crown Prince MBS has consistently maintained that normalization with Israel requires concrete progress toward a Palestinian state, a condition vehemently opposed by the current Israeli government.
Strategic Priorities: Iran, Gaza, and Normalization
The U.S. drive to expand the Abraham Accords is aimed at cementing Middle Eastern stability and safeguarding the October Gaza ceasefire, which ended two years of conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Changing Regional Calculus: The geopolitical landscape has shifted dramatically since June, following U.S. and Israeli strikes that resulted in Iran halting uranium enrichment in mid-November. This development significantly reduces the immediate nuclear threat, encouraging regional partners to align more openly.
New Accords Members: Nations that have already joined the Accords include the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco. Kazakhstan also recently announced its intention to join. President Trump stated that “many more nations will be announced soon,” particularly after the U.S. and Israel “took out Iran’s nuclear capability.”
Deepening Trade and Defense Deals
Beyond diplomacy, the U.S.-Saudi commercial relationship remains robust and is set for further expansion:
Bilateral Trade: According to the White House, bilateral goods trade reached $25.9 billion in 2024, with the U.S. exporting $13.2 billion and posting a trade surplus of $443 million. Saudi investment in the U.S. hit $9.5 billion in 2023.
Advanced Military Sales: Following a $142 billion arms deal signed during President Trump’s May visit—part of a $600 billion economic cooperation framework the administration is now considering a groundbreaking sale of F-35 stealth fighters to Saudi Arabia. President Trump confirmed that Riyadh "wants to buy a lot of our planes the best in the world." Any such F-35 deal would require complex Congressional approval.
Broader Security Architecture: Regional defense ties are expanding further, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirming that the U.S. and Qatar are close to finalizing a new security cooperation agreement.
The Khashoggi Shadow and Strategic Partnership
The Crown Prince's upcoming visit is his first to Washington since the controversial 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. A 2021 report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) concluded that MBS approved the operation to "capture or kill" Khashoggi. While Riyadh denies direct involvement, the Crown Prince has accepted responsibility as the kingdom's de facto leader.
Despite the persistent international controversy, MBS remains a critical strategic partner in the region. The Trump White House is prioritizing the consolidation of this alliance to counter Iran, expand the Abraham Accords, and establish a new, durable security order in the Middle East.