Saudi Arabia and the United States signed on Tuesday energy and industry agreements as President Donald Trump visited Riyadh where he was welcomed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
“The United States and Saudi Arabia share a commitment to deeper economic integration, underscoring the Kingdom’s pledge of expanding cooperation in critical sectors such as health, energy, and science,” said White House in announcing the agreements.
The US Department of Energy and Saudi Ministry of Energy concluded an agreement for cooperation in the field of energy exchanged by Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright.
“This agreement builds upon their strong existing relationship; it will focus collaboration on examining the potential for innovation, development, financing, and deployment of energy infrastructure,” said the statement.
The Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and US Department of Energy signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to collaborate on mining and mineral resources. “The agreement contributes to economic development and the diversification and resilience of critical mineral supply chains,” added the statement.
NASA and the Saudi Space Agency signed an agreement for a CubeSat to fly on NASA’s Artemis II test flight. Saudi Arabia’s CubeSat will measure aspects of space weather at a range of distances from Earth and deploy in high Earth orbit from a spacecraft adapter on the Space Launch System rocket after the Orion spacecraft is safely flying on its own with its crew of four astronauts.
The US and Saudi Arabia recently agreed to modernize the Air Transport Agreement to allow US airlines to carry cargo between Saudi Arabia and third countries without needing to stop in the United States, an important right for cargo hub operations. Saudi carriers will have the same rights to serve the United States.
Trump had arrived in the Kingdom earlier on Tuesday on his first overseas trip since his reelection. He will next visit the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
Saudi Arabia and the United States also signed the largest defense sales agreement in history, worth nearly early $142 billion.
