Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman will arrive in Washington on Tuesday for talks that Riyadh is framing as a generational reset of US-Saudi relations, reaching far beyond the much-discussed question of F-35 fighter jet sales or potential normalization with Israel.
Saudi officials and commentators say the visit will center on defense, nuclear power, technology and regional security, as well as economic diversification and energy cooperation. Faisal J. Abbas, editor-in-chief of Arab News, wrote that the summit could “set the course for the next 80 years of US-Saudi ties,” likening it to the landmark 1945 USS *Quincy* meeting between King Abdulaziz and President Franklin D. Roosevelt that cemented the oil-for-security partnership.
This time, however, Riyadh wants to broaden the foundation. “The relationship is no longer confined to oil and security,” Abbas noted, highlighting nuclear cooperation, space, artificial intelligence and advanced technologies as new pillars. He argued that Saudi Vision 2030 and Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” agenda are aligned “in ambition, scope and urgency.”
The crown prince arrives in Washington conscious of the limits of US security guarantees. Drone and missile attacks on Saudi oil facilities by Iran and Houthi militants, as well as Washington’s earlier decision to delist the Houthis as terrorists and withdraw Patriot batteries, have underscored the need for a more formal defense framework. Abbas called a written defense treaty “essential” as the Kingdom prepares to host Expo 2030 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
Normalization with Israel is expected to be discussed but is unlikely to dominate. Riyadh continues to demand meaningful movement toward Palestinian statehood and has bristled at recent inflammatory remarks by Israeli ministers. Former US ambassador to Saudi Arabia Michael Ratney said the relationship is now “as diverse as the Saudi economy is becoming,” pointing to new openings for US companies as the Kingdom invests in non-oil energy, technology and a growing role as a regional power broker, including outreach to Iran and Syria.
Photo: Gemini AI