In a historic move aimed at strengthening the decades-long partnership, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Prime Minister, and US President Donald Trump signed the Strategic Defense Agreement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America. This signing culminated an official working visit by the Crown Prince to Washington, which included intensive discussions that resulted in a series of agreements outlining a new phase of cooperation between the two allied nations.
Historical roots of a renewed partnership
This agreement is not a product of a vacuum, but rather a natural extension of long-standing relations that began with the historic meeting between the Kingdom's founder, King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud, and US President Franklin Roosevelt in 1945. For over nine decades, this relationship has evolved into a cornerstone of stability in the Middle East and global energy security. The new agreement represents a modernization and deepening of this partnership, adapting it to contemporary geopolitical challenges and aligning with the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030, spearheaded by the Crown Prince.
Dimensions of the agreement and its strategic impact
The agreement establishes a robust framework for long-term defense cooperation, aimed at strengthening joint deterrence capabilities, enhancing military readiness, and deepening integration between the armed forces of both countries. Perhaps the most significant indication of the importance of this step is President Trump's designation of Saudi Arabia as a "major non-NATO ally," a classification that grants the Kingdom strategic privileges including easier access to advanced military technologies and equipment, and increased joint training exercises.
The visit's outcomes included approvals for several significant military deals, among them:
- Advanced F-35 stealth fighters.
- Modern battle tanks.
- Advanced MQ-9 Bravo drones.
These deals are not only aimed at modernizing the Saudi military arsenal, but also at ensuring the qualitative superiority of Saudi forces and their ability to effectively counter regional threats.
Broader prospects for economic and technical cooperation
The visit's outcomes extended beyond defense to encompass vital sectors supporting the Kingdom's economic diversification goals. Saudi investments in the United States were announced to increase from $600 billion to $1 trillion. Significant agreements were also signed in various fields, including:
- Peaceful Nuclear Energy: Laying the legal foundations for a multi-billion dollar partnership aimed at developing a peaceful nuclear program in the Kingdom.
- Artificial intelligence: Approval to sell advanced AI chips to Humin, a company owned by the Public Investment Fund, further strengthens the Kingdom’s ambitions to become a leading technology hub.
- Rare earth metals: An agreement was reached to deepen cooperation in the field of rare earth metals, a vital sector for global supply chains and advanced technology industries.
During the visit, the Crown Prince affirmed that Saudi-American relations are witnessing a qualitative shift today, going beyond traditional frameworks towards a comprehensive partnership that achieves common interests and supports peace and prosperity in the region and the world.
