US President Donald Trump warmly welcomed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House, in a scene reflecting the strength of the Saudi-American defense agreement and the escalating strategic cooperation between the two countries. The welcoming ceremony included a 21-gun salute and a flyover by F-16 and F-35 fighter jets, 48 of which Trump announced he would sell to the Kingdom.
Statements confirming the strength of the Saudi-American relationship
Trump praised Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, emphasizing his deep respect for King Salman bin Abdulaziz, whom he described as "a truly wonderful man." He also described the meeting as "very, very good" and affirmed that relations between the two countries were "at their best.".
For his part, the Crown Prince confirmed that Saudi Arabia will invest between $600 billion and $1 trillion in the United States, pointing to the great opportunities in the computing and modern technologies sector.
Defense agreement and broad nuclear cooperation
and Saudi Arabia had reached new defense agreement, in addition to expanding cooperation in peaceful nuclear energy and renewable energy. He confirmed that the F-35 fighter jets to be sold to Saudi Arabia are identical in capabilities to those provided to Israel, denying the existence of any less capable versions.
Political messages and a strong presence of the Crown Prince
The Crown Prince explained that Saudi Arabia desires a comprehensive peace in the region, with a genuine commitment to a two-state solution to the Palestinian issue. He emphasized that the Kingdom seeks good relations with all countries in the Middle East, noting that peace is a shared goal for all.
The Crown Prince also pointed out that the terrorist Osama bin Laden exploited Saudis in the September 11 attacks with the aim of destroying Saudi-American relations, stressing that the Kingdom confronted terrorism and took decisive measures against it.
Notable situations inside the Oval Office
Trump revealed that the lifting of sanctions on Syria came at the request of the Crown Prince, following his meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh. Trump described the trust between Washington and Riyadh as "mutual and strong."
During the meeting, Trump joked, "The Crown Prince doesn't sleep much... and neither do I. Those who love their country work tirelessly," alluding to the significant efforts Prince Mohammed bin Salman is making for the Kingdom's future.
