Overview
- Saudi Arabia becomes the 20th country with major non-NATO ally status, gaining additional military and economic privileges short of NATO protections.
- Washington and Riyadh signed agreements spanning arms sales, civil nuclear energy, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals.
- A Strategic Defense Agreement commits new Saudi burden-sharing funds and eases access for U.S. defense firms operating in the kingdom.
- The civil nuclear framework establishes the legal basis for long-term energy cooperation, prompting concern from nonproliferation experts.
- Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pledged to lift planned U.S. investment to $1 trillion, and President Trump cast the reset as strengthening regional deterrence after June strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.