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Trump-MBS White House Summit: F-35 Jets, Nuclear Deals Amid Khashoggi Questions

President Trump hosted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House with full ceremonial honors. The leaders signed multiple agreements covering defense, nuclear energy, artificial intelligence and critical minerals cooperation. Trump approved the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia as part of a new strategic defense agreement. The crown prince also addressed regional diplomacy and the Khashoggi killing during their joint appearance.

Key Points: Trump Approves F-35 Sale to Saudi Arabia in White House Meeting

  • Trump approves F-35 fighter jet sale to Saudi Arabia under new defense agreement
  • Leaders sign nuclear energy, AI and critical minerals cooperation deals
  • Saudi investment in US projected to reach $1 trillion from current $600 billion
  • Crown Prince addresses Khashoggi killing as "painful" mistake during press conference
2 min read

Trump clears F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia; finalizes deals on nuclear energy, minerals

Trump and Saudi Crown Prince sign defense, nuclear and AI agreements during White House visit, with F-35 jet sale approved and Khashoggi killing addressed.

"We believe in the future of America - Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman"

Washington, Nov 19

US President Donald Trump hosted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House, with both sides signing agreements on nuclear energy, defence, critical minerals and artificial intelligence.

According to the White House statement, they signed deals on civil nuclear energy, a critical minerals framework and an AI Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Both leaders also inked a US-Saudi Strategic Defense Agreement (SDA), with Trump approving the sale of F-35 jets and tanks.

It was the crown prince’s first visit to the White House in seven years and was marked by full ceremonial honours, including a military guard, and a flyover by US aircraft. Trump, welcoming the crown prince, described him as “an extremely respected” figure and highlighted their longstanding personal ties.

During their remarks, Prince Mohammed outlined plans to boost Saudi investment in the United States from a projected $600 billion to nearly $1 trillion. He framed the increase as a strategic commitment to US growth, pointing to expanding demand for computing power and advanced chips within the kingdom. “We believe in the future of America,” he noted, calling the opportunities “real” and commercially driven. Trump responded that the United States “appreciates it very much.”

Addressing questions about the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Trump reiterated his view that the crown prince had no role in the incident. Prince Mohammed called the killing “painful” for Saudi Arabia and described it as a “huge mistake,” adding that his government has strengthened procedures to prevent a repeat. He emphasised that the kingdom had taken steps it views as corrective and necessary.

On regional diplomacy, the crown prince confirmed that Saudi Arabia is interested in joining the Abraham Accords and establishing formal ties with Israel. He underscored, however, that Riyadh requires what it considers a "clear path toward a two-state solution" before advancing.

On Wednesday, the two leaders will attend a US-Saudi investment forum in Washington.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Interesting to see the nuclear energy cooperation. India should also explore such partnerships for our energy security. The $1 trillion investment commitment shows how geopolitics is shifting.
A
Ananya R
The Khashoggi issue seems to have been brushed aside too easily. While strategic partnerships are important, human rights cannot be ignored. This sets a worrying precedent for international relations. 🤔
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Vikram M
Saudi Arabia joining Abraham Accords could be good for regional peace. But the two-state solution condition is crucial. Hope this leads to genuine progress in Middle East peace process.
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Sarah B
As someone working in tech, the AI MoU and focus on computing power is fascinating. Saudi's digital transformation ambitions are massive. India should leverage our IT expertise to partner with them.
K
Karthik V
The critical minerals framework is strategic. With India's growing manufacturing sector, we need to secure our own mineral supply chains. Our government should learn from such agreements.

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