Overview
- The White House visit was Mohammed bin Salman's first since Jamal Khashoggi's 2018 killing, and President Trump rejected U.S. intelligence findings that the crown prince likely approved the operation.
- Trump said the U.S. will sell F-35 stealth jets to Saudi Arabia, a move that would mark the fighter's first sale in the region beyond Israel and that is expected to undergo congressional and security scrutiny.
- Officials and reporting cite concerns about preserving Israel's qualitative military edge and safeguarding U.S. technology, including worries about potential exposure to China.
- Bin Salman announced plans to raise Saudi investments in the U.S. from $600 billion to $1 trillion, with cooperation discussions spanning artificial intelligence infrastructure and civilian nuclear development.
- Riyadh signaled interest in joining the Abraham Accords but reiterated that a two-state pathway for Palestinians is a prerequisite, as the kingdom also seeks U.S. defense assurances that could be structured outside a treaty.