Saudi Arabia is negotiating a defense agreement with the Trump administration modeled after the recent U.S.-Qatar pact. The kingdom hopes to finalize the deal when Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visits the White House next month, with expectations that it will be “robust” and expand military and intelligence cooperation.
The talks follow President Trump’s executive order last month pledging that Washington would respond to any attack on Qatar with “all lawful and appropriate measures, including diplomatic, economic, and, if necessary, military.”
Saudi officials have been in ongoing negotiations with U.S. counterparts to secure a standalone defense pact, which could be formalized either through an agreement or a new executive order.
The White House unveiled a $142 billion arms deal with Riyadh during Trump’s visit to the region in May, roughly double the kingdom’s 2024 defense budget, which it described as the largest defense package in history, encompassing air force and space systems, missile defense, and maritime and border security.
