8 Highlights From Trump’s Decision to Upgrade Saudi Ties

1. Why is the major non-NATO ally designation significant? 

President Trump has officially designated Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally, a status currently held by 20 other nations, including Israel, Egypt, and Jordan. This symbolic and practical move elevates the Kingdom’s military status, granting it privileged access to U.S. defense technology, joint research projects, and expedited transfers of surplus military equipment. However, unlike full NATO membership, it does not include a mutual defense pact or an Article 5 security guarantee.

2. What deals were signed before the announcement?

Earlier in the day, Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed a new strategic defense agreement. Trump also said the U.S. will sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. The White House noted that Saudi Arabia plans to purchase hundreds of tanks and fighter jets. The package marks one of the most expansive U.S.–Saudi defense alignments to date.

3. Is this a new level of cooperation?

While the "Major Non-NATO Ally" status is new, the alliance itself dates back eight decades to a historic 1945 meeting between President Franklin D. Roosevelt and King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud aboard a U.S. Navy cruiser. The relationship has long been built on a simple exchange of U.S. security for Saudi energy stability. However, in recent decades, the partnership has been solidified less by oil and more by a shared strategic imperative to counter their mutual rival, Iran.

4. What is in the new "Strategic Defense Deal"?

Beyond hardware, the two leaders signed a strategic defense agreement that deepens cooperation on artificial intelligence and civil nuclear energy. As part of the deal, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pledged to increase Saudi investment in the U.S. to nearly $1 trillion, up from a previous $600 billion commitment. The pact aims to bind the two nations closer together.

5. Will Saudi Arabia join the Abraham Accords?

Saudi Arabia has not yet signed onto the accords, a diplomatic framework Trump brokered in his first term between Israel and several Muslim-majority countries. During the visit, bin Salman said he is interested in joining but wants to see a path toward a Palestinian state. Trump said they had a “very good talk” about the agreement. The decision remains unresolved.

6. How does this impact the Khashoggi controversy?

The deal signals a definitive U.S. move to look past the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. While U.S. intelligence agencies concluded bin Salman approved the operation, Trump defended the Crown Prince on Tuesday, stating he believes the leader "knew nothing" about it. Bin Salman described the killing as "really painful to hear," while Trump dismissed the victim as "extremely controversial," prioritizing the strategic alliance over human rights concerns.

7. Are there conflicts of interest involving the Trump family?

Critics have raised concerns about the Trump family's private business ties to the Gulf region. While members of the President’s family have business interests in Saudi Arabia, Trump explicitly denied any conflict during the visit. He insisted he has "nothing to do" with those deals and argued that his family has actually done "very little" business with the Kingdom compared to what they could have.

8. How might this shape regional security going forward?

Elevating Saudi Arabia’s status could deepen U.S. involvement in Gulf security. It may also embolden Saudi Arabia to pursue more advanced military capabilities. The decision could influence ongoing regional diplomacy, including the future of the Abraham Accords. It strengthens one of Washington’s most longstanding alliances in the Middle East.