Trump Designates Saudi Arabia as Major Non-NATO Ally
The move strengthens military, economic, and strategic ties between Washington and Riyadh
President Donald Trump announced on November 18 that the United States will designate Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally, marking an upgrade in the kingdom’s strategic and diplomatic relationship with Washington. The announcement was made during a White House dinner with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. High-profile guests, including Elon Musk and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, were also present.
Trump said the designation would deepen cooperation between the two nations on military, economic, and strategic initiatives. He stated that the move would take military cooperation to greater heights and serve the interests of both countries, as well as peace. The new status gives Saudi Arabia priority access to U.S. defense technology, including F-35 fighter jets, which Trump said he plans to approve for sale. Bin Salman’s arrival at the White House was marked by a flyover of the aircraft.
During their Oval Office meeting, Trump described the United States as the “hottest country on the planet,” a phrase echoed by the crown prince. They also announced plans to increase Saudi investment in the United States from $600 billion to $1 trillion, focusing on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, data centers, and advanced materials.
Saudi Arabia will join 20 other nations with major non-NATO ally status, including Israel, Qatar, Egypt, and Jordan. While the U.S. and Saudi Arabia have cooperated closely for decades, disagreements over the Israel–Palestine conflict remain. Saudi Arabia continues to support a two-state solution. The crown prince did not commit to signing the Abraham Accords, though Trump said the discussion was productive.
The decision to elevate Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic standing may face criticism because of ongoing human rights concerns. In 2021, U.S. officials concluded that bin Salman had approved the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Trump expressed skepticism about that assessment, saying he believes the crown prince “knew nothing” about the incident and describing Khashoggi as “extremely controversial.”
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