Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Historic White House Visit: Rebuilding US-Saudi Relations Under Trump

President Donald Trump is preparing to warmly welcome Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House on Tuesday, marking the prince's first visit since the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents.

Prior to Prince Mohammed's arrival, Trump has announced approval for selling F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, despite concerns within the administration about potential Chinese access to the advanced technology.

The relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia had deteriorated following the Khashoggi incident, which U.S. intelligence agencies concluded was likely directed by Prince Mohammed himself. The crown prince, now 40, has consistently denied any involvement in the death of Khashoggi, who was a Saudi citizen residing in Virginia and a Washington Post contributor.

Seven years later, the tensions have largely dissipated. Trump now views the crown prince as an essential partner in shaping the Middle East's future. During their meeting, the focus will be on unveiling billions of dollars in deals and discussing regional challenges, with the day concluding at a special White House evening event hosted by First Lady Melania Trump in the prince's honor.

"They have been a great ally," Trump remarked about Saudi Arabia just before the visit.

The F-35 fighter jet sale announcement comes as a surprise to many, particularly as some within the Republican administration worry about disrupting Israel's military advantage in the region, especially while Trump relies on Israeli cooperation for his Gaza peace initiative.

This unexpected move appears timed to encourage Saudi Arabia toward normalizing relations with Israel. During his first term, Trump facilitated commercial and diplomatic ties between Israel and several Arab nations including Bahrain, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates through the Abraham Accords.

Trump considers expanding these accords crucial for establishing Middle Eastern stability following the two-year Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. Securing Saudi Arabia's participation - as the largest Arab economy and Islam's birthplace - could create significant momentum, with Trump suggesting that once Saudi Arabia joins, "everybody" in the Arab world would follow.

However, Saudi Arabia maintains that establishing a clear pathway to Palestinian statehood remains a prerequisite for normalizing relations with Israel, while Israeli officials continue to oppose Palestinian state creation.

On Monday, the UN Security Council approved an American plan for Gaza that authorizes an international stabilization force and outlines a potential path toward Palestinian independence.

The leaders' agenda will likely include maintaining the fragile Gaza ceasefire, addressing concerns about Iran's regional activities, and discussing Sudan's civil war. Saudi Arabia seeks formal assurances defining the scope of American military protection, though any agreement not ratified by Congress could be reversed by a future administration.

For Prince Mohammed, who has limited his Western travel since the Khashoggi killing, this visit represents an opportunity to reestablish his global standing and showcase his vision to diversify Saudi Arabia's economy beyond oil through investments in mining, technology, and tourism.

Saudi Arabia is expected to announce multi-billion dollar investments in American artificial intelligence infrastructure, alongside new cooperation in civil nuclear energy, according to a senior Trump administration official not authorized to speak publicly before formal announcements.

Bernard Haykel, a Princeton University Professor of Near Eastern Studies, suggested at a Carnegie Endowment event that the challenge for Americans is convincing Prince Mohammed that "Saudi Arabia ought to look more like South Korea than China," arguing that political repression ultimately harms business investment and tourism development.

However, Trump's warm reception may provide the crown prince with evidence to the contrary.

Beyond the White House ceremonies, the two nations are organizing an investment summit at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday, featuring executives from Salesforce, Qualcomm, Pfizer, the Cleveland Clinic, Chevron and Saudi Arabia's Aramco, potentially announcing additional Saudi-American business deals.