Saudi Crown Prince MBS to Meet Trump on November 18: White House

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) is scheduled to visit Washington, DC, later this month for an official working meeting with US President Donald Trump, according to a White House official. This visit marks MBS’s second trip to the US capital in seven years and reflects the ongoing strategic ties between Saudi Arabia and the United States. The meeting, set for November 18, was first reported by Reuters and is expected to focus on a range of bilateral and regional issues, including defence cooperation and diplomatic initiatives in the Middle East.

The crown prince’s visit comes at a significant time as Trump continues his efforts to encourage more countries to join the Abraham Accords—a series of agreements initiated during his previous term to normalise relations between Israel and several Arab nations. The Abraham Accords, launched in 2020, saw countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco establish diplomatic relations with Israel. Trump has expressed optimism that Saudi Arabia, one of the most influential Arab nations, will eventually join these accords.

However, Saudi Arabia has consistently maintained a cautious stance on the matter. The kingdom has stated that it will not normalise ties with Israel unless there is a clear and credible path toward the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state living side by side with Israel. This position reflects Saudi Arabia’s long-standing policy in alignment with the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002, which conditions normalisation on resolving the Palestinian question.

In a recent interview with CBS News’s 60 Minutes, Trump reiterated his belief that Saudi Arabia would ultimately become part of the Abraham Accords, though he did not provide specific details. The optimism surrounding the meeting has fueled speculation about possible new agreements between the two countries.

A senior Trump administration official, speaking anonymously to Reuters, revealed that “there are discussions about signing something when the crown prince comes, but details are still in flux.” This statement suggests that a major announcement could be made during the visit, possibly involving a defence or strategic cooperation agreement. The Financial Times also reported two weeks ago that there were ongoing hopes that both nations might finalise a defence deal during MBS’s trip to Washington.

Saudi Arabia and the United States have shared a strong and enduring partnership for decades, particularly in the energy and defence sectors. Their relationship has been characterised by mutual economic interests and strategic cooperation in maintaining stability in the Middle East. The two countries have also cooperated extensively on counterterrorism and regional security matters.

During Trump’s earlier presidency, the US administration solidified its relationship with Saudi Arabia through large-scale arms deals. Notably, during Trump’s visit to Riyadh in May, the United States agreed to sell Saudi Arabia an arms package valued at nearly $142 billion. This deal followed similar multibillion-dollar defence agreements signed during his first term in 2017. Trump’s first foreign trip as president also included Saudi Arabia as a key destination, underscoring the importance of the bilateral relationship.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s previous visit to the US took place during Trump’s first term, during which he met American leaders, business executives, and investors across several major cities. That trip aimed to strengthen economic and technological partnerships between the two nations as part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 reform programme.

The upcoming November 18 meeting is expected to reinforce these longstanding ties and could potentially shape the next phase of US-Saudi relations, particularly in defence cooperation and regional diplomacy. Both leaders are anticipated to discuss mutual interests, security challenges, and future collaborations that could influence Middle Eastern geopolitics for years to come.