MBS’s first official trip abroad in years

On November 18, 2025, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MBS, set out on his first state visit in years.

Considering that this represents his first trip to Washington since the controversial 2018 murder of Saudi American journalist Jamal Khashoggi, this visit carries profound symbolism as well as practical and strategic significance.

The Crown Prince would meet today with the United States President Donald Trump at the White House, where he will receive a lavish welcome. It is expected that the red carpet will be rolled out for MBS with a fly-by and a cannon fire. Apart from their professional discussions, a gala dinner will also be held (the equivalent of a state dinner, given that bin Salman does not represent the head of his state).

From here, various critical and vital issues will be brought up during their meeting, which will have serious impacts and repercussion for the two countries as well as the Middle East as a whole.

Riyadh’s security and military aspirations

Saudi Arabia has long sought security guarantees and crucial fighter jets from its western ally, the United States. However, the latter has continuously stalled any commitments regarding these matters (especially during former US President Joe Biden’s term, citing democratic and human rights concerns concerning KSA’s policies both domestically and regionally).

However, following Israel’s unprecedented attack on Hamas’s negotiating delegation in Qatar’s capital, Doha, Trump issued a bilateral deal for Qatar, offering the latter security assurances. Since the deal was enacted via executive order, it did not require Senate ratification, which means it is likely to expire at the end of Trump’s administration. Therefore, MBS is seeking to walk away with a similar security deal, to say the least. Riyadh had previously sought a pact with Washington, similar to NATO’s Article 5, claiming that any aggression on the Kingdom would stipulate an immediate military response from the US.

Moreover, Suadi Arabia has previously sought to conclude a strategic military purchase with Washington. This includes buying the infamous and effective American F-35 stealth fighter jets. The Kingdom also asked for civilian nuclear cooperation, for peaceful purposes, especially as Tehran’s 2015 JCPOA permitted it to develop such a nuclear program. Surprisingly, President Trump announced on November 17, 2025, that his country will be selling the aforementioned stealth fighters to KSA. As for the nuclear program, informed sources a deal on a framework for civilian nuclear cooperation would likely to be signed during their meeting.

Washington’s Saudi Israeli normalization aspirations

The crown jewel of Trump’s term would be expanding the 2020 Abraham Accords to include most, if not all, Arab states in enmity with Israel. The most influential and pivotal piece in this puzzle is Saudi Arabia.

Despite Washington’s aspirations, key challenges lie ahead of this ambitious objective. The traumas and repercussions of the recent Gaza War have made it quite difficult for the Kingdom to go ahead and sign a peace treaty with Tel Aviv. Additionally, Riyadh had outlined its conditions for normalization, which include establishing a viable and independent Palestinian state, based on the 1967 border with East Jerusalem being its capital and achieving a just solution for the refugee crisis. However, Tel Aviv remains staunchly against such Palestinian aspirations, claiming that it would only serve as “a reward to terrorism.”

From here, informed sources believed that instead of an outright announcement of a normalization treaty between KSA and Israel, today’s meeting could seek a roadmap for a future treaty between the two. This roadmap would include both sides’ expectations and commitments towards achieving such a historical agreement.