Overview
- Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received full ceremonial honors at the White House, including a military flyover, in his first U.S. visit since the 2018 Khashoggi killing.
- Trump said the U.S. will sell F-35s to Saudi Arabia, with Riyadh seeking up to 48 jets in a move that would be the kingdom’s first and a major policy departure.
- The prospective sale raises questions about preserving Israel’s qualitative military edge, and an Israeli official signaled acceptance if tied to Saudi normalization with Israel.
- MBS said Saudi investment in the U.S. will rise from a pledged $600 billion to $1 trillion, with expected announcements on AI infrastructure, defense deals and civil nuclear cooperation.
- U.S. officials have flagged risks of Chinese access to sensitive technology and possible interagency or congressional review, indicating any transfer would face strict oversight.