Credited from: AA
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on November 18, marking his first visit to Washington since 2018. The meeting aims to strengthen U.S.-Saudi relations, with discussions focused on a potential defense pact and bilateral agreements on issues including artificial intelligence and nuclear cooperation, according to CBS News, South China Morning Post, and Anadolu Agency.
During the meeting, which follows Trump’s Gulf tour in May, the leaders are expected to review military and intelligence cooperation agreements made previously, aiming to fortify security ties. Trump has acknowledged that Saudi Arabia has expressed interest in joining normalization agreements with Israel, enhancing U.S.-led initiatives around the region, as noted by CBS News and Anadolu Agency.
The context of this visit comes amid ongoing geopolitical shifts following a ceasefire in Gaza, which may facilitate further discussions about regional stability and economic collaboration, despite uncertainties surrounding normalization with Israel. Reports indicate that this visit and subsequent agreements are not contingent on these developments, according to South China Morning Post and Anadolu Agency.