Trump to Host Crown Prince Mohammed amid U.S.-Saudi Thaw

Washington, Nov. 18 (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump is poised to host Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday, marking the Saudi leader's first White House visit since the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents. The incident had strained U.S.-Saudi ties, as U.S. intelligence suspected Prince Mohammed’s involvement.

However, seven years later, relations have thawed, and Trump now sees the 40-year-old prince as pivotal in Middle Eastern geopolitics. Prince Mohammed denies ordering Khashoggi’s murder. During the visit, focus will shift to unveiling multimillion-dollar deals and discussions on Middle Eastern volatility, capped by an evening event at the White House arranged by first lady Melania Trump.

“They have been a great ally,” Trump commented ahead of the visit. Confirming a new arms agreement, Trump disclosed plans to sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, despite internal concerns about potential Chinese access to the technology and possible effects on Israel's military balance.

These developments occur as Trump encourages Saudi relations with Israel, building on the Abraham Accords which included countries like Bahrain and Morocco. Trump envisions Saudi Arabia's inclusion as a catalyst that might influence broader Arab-Israeli normalization—a goal hampered by Israel’s opposition to a Palestinian state, while Saudi Arabia demands progress toward it first.

The UN Security Council sanctioned a U.S. proposal for Gaza on Monday, endorsing a stabilization force with a distant goal of Palestinian statehood. The agenda for talks includes upholding a Gaza ceasefire, addressing Iran’s threats, and the Sudanese civil conflict. Saudi Arabia seeks definitive U.S. defense commitments from Trump.

Prince Mohammed, having distanced himself from the West amid fallout from the Khashoggi affair, aims to reassert his global stature and diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy beyond oil. The visit is expected to yield announcements on Saudi investment in U.S. AI infrastructure and collaborations in civil nuclear energy.

“The challenge for us as Americans, is to convince someone like MBS that Saudi Arabia’s future should align with South Korea rather than China,” suggested Bernard Haykel of Princeton, speaking at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

But Trump's diplomatic engagement may give the crown prince confidence in his current trajectory. Alongside these diplomatic rituals, a U.S.-Saudi investment summit is set for the Kennedy Center on Wednesday featuring leaders from Salesforce, Qualcomm, Pfizer, the Cleveland Clinic, Chevron, and Aramco, with potential for further agreements. (AP)

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