• Trump designates Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally during Crown Prince's White House visit.
• Agreements include sale of advanced F-35 fighter jets and a strategic defense partnership.
• Investment commitments from Saudi Arabia to the US rise significantly, emphasizing economic ties.
• Concerns arise regarding the impact of F-35 sales on Israel’s military edge in the region.
• Additional agreements on nuclear energy, AI, and critical minerals were also signed.

During a meeting at the White House, President Donald Trump announced that Saudi Arabia would be designated a major non-NATO ally, enhancing military cooperation between Washington and Riyadh. This designation allows for certain privileges in defense trade and security cooperation but does not entail explicit security guarantees, according to Al Jazeera and Bloomberg.

As part of this strategic shift, Trump committed to the sale of “top of the line” F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, addressing requests for advanced military capabilities. This marks a significant change in U.S. foreign policy, given that Israel has traditionally been the only Middle Eastern country to operate the F-35, and raises questions regarding Israel's qualitative military edge, as reported by Channel News Asia and Middle East Eye.

In addition to the F-35 sale, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia signed a series of agreements covering civil nuclear cooperation, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals. These deals aim to deepen bilateral ties, create high-paying jobs in the U.S., and reinforce regional stability, according to India Times and AA.

Said agreements, specifically the Strategic Defense Agreement, will facilitate faster arms sales and military training with greater interoperability for U.S. defense firms operating in Saudi Arabia. Current and former officials expect these changes to place Saudi Arabia ahead of other Gulf states in acquiring sophisticated U.S. weaponry, noted Middle East Eye and India Times.

The advancements in military and economic ties were met with skepticism regarding their implications for regional dynamics—particularly concerning Iran and the traditional U.S.-Israeli defense relationship—which underscores the geopolitics at play, as highlighted by Channel News Asia and Middle East Eye.