Saudi Crown Prince’s Visit to US Launches New Chapter in Relations 

US President Donald Trump greets Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, DC on November 18, 2025. (AFP)
US President Donald Trump greets Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, DC on November 18, 2025. (AFP)
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Saudi Crown Prince’s Visit to US Launches New Chapter in Relations 

US President Donald Trump greets Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, DC on November 18, 2025. (AFP)
US President Donald Trump greets Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, DC on November 18, 2025. (AFP)

The visit by Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to the United States on Tuesday paved the way for a new "great" chapter in relations between the two allies and consolidated the "unlimited" partnership between them. 

US President Donald Trump received Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House. An official reception ceremony was held for the Crown Prince, whose motorcade was escorted by cavalry upon arrival followed by a review of the honor guard while the military band performed, and 19 artillery rounds were fired in welcome. 

The Crown Prince and Trump witnessed an aerial military display in which a formation of fighter jets flew over Washington in welcome of his arrival. 

Following the reception ceremony, Trump escorted the Crown Prince on a tour of the White House. 

During remarks at the Oval Office, Crown Prince Mohammed revealed that Saudi Arabia will invest up to $1 trillion in the US.  

"I believe, Mr. President, in today and tomorrow, we can announce that we are going to increase that $600 billion to almost $1 trillion for investment, real investment, and real opportunity," he said.  

"Now, you're saying to me now that the $600 billion will be $1 trillion?" Trump said, to which Crown Prince Mohammed replied: "Definitely."  

The Kingdom was not "creating fake opportunities to please America or please Trump," he added. Saudi Arabia has a high demand for computing power and desires US chips. 

Afterwards, the Crown Prince and Trump chaired the Saudi-US summit. 

They reviewed aspects of bilateral relations, discussed joint efforts to boost the Saudi-US strategic partnership across various fields, examined regional and international developments, explored ways to strengthen security and stability regionally and globally, and addressed several other issues of mutual interest. 

Crown Prince Mohammed and Trump signed a strategic defense agreement at the conclusion of the summit. They also signed bilateral agreements and memoranda on strategic partnership for artificial intelligence; a joint statement on completing the negotiations regarding cooperation in civil nuclear energy; a strategic framework for partnership in securing supply chains for uranium, permanent magnets, and critical minerals; and agreement to facilitate procedures for accelerating Saudi investments. 

They also signed financial and economic partnership arrangements for economic prosperity; arrangements related to cooperation in the financial markets; a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in the field of education and training; and letters concerning vehicle safety standards. 

Attending the summit from the Saudi side were Minister of Energy and Chairman of the Saudi side of the Saudi-US Strategic Economic Partnership Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz; Saudi Ambassador to the US Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz; Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah; Minister of State, Member of the Cabinet, and National Security Adviser Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban; Minister of Commerce Majid Al-Kassabi; Minister of Finance Mohammed Aljadaan; and Governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) Yasir Alrumayyan. 

From the American side, officials included Vice President JD Vance; Secretary of State Marco Rubio; Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth; Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent; Secretary of Energy Chris Wright; White House chief of staff Susie Wiles; and special envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff. 



Saudi Crown Prince Receives Invitation to Attended 2026 UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince Receives Invitation to Attended 2026 UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received on Thursday an invitation from United Arab Emirates Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to attend the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, to be held in Abu Dhabi.

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji received the invitation during a meeting with UAE Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Matar Salem AlDhaheri in Riyadh.

The two sides reviewed relations between the two brotherly countries and discussed issues of mutual interest.


Coalition Intercepts Houthi Drone over Makkah Region

Major General Turki Al-Malki, spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Major General Turki Al-Malki, spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Coalition Intercepts Houthi Drone over Makkah Region

Major General Turki Al-Malki, spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Major General Turki Al-Malki, spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen spokesman Major General Turki Al-Malki announced that a Houthi drone was intercepted and destroyed over the Makkah region early Friday, hours after air defenses intercepted a cruise missile fired by the group towards the Kingdom’s western region.

Shortly afterwards, the Yemeni Armed Forces said they were taking “with the utmost seriousness” field reports from the Taiz frontlines that the Houthi militia had used projectiles suspected of containing toxic substances, causing civilians and members of the Popular Resistance to suffer suffocation and loss of consciousness.

The military said the reports warranted an urgent investigation to identify the substances used, document their effects, establish their sources and expose the parties involved in supplying them.

Meanwhile, Yemen’s Transport Ministry announced on Thursday that Aden International Airport in the south of the country had resumed normal operations after suspending flights following a strike on Wednesday evening, claimed by the Houthis.


Saudi Arabia, NATO Discuss Defense, Military Cooperation

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia, NATO Discuss Defense, Military Cooperation

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz held on Thursday a phone call with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

They discussed aspects of military and defense cooperation and joint coordination on current developments in the region to support regional and international security and stability.

Prince Khalid also held separate telephone talks with his counterparts from Canada, David McGuinty; Germany, Boris Pistorius; and Spain, Margarita Robles, to discuss cooperation.

They also discussed regional developments in light of the terrorist attacks carried out by the Houthi militia against Saudi Arabia, as well as ways to achieve security and stability.

Prince Khalid bin Salman also extended his condolences to McGuinty on the death of several military service members following a fire at a Canadian Forces base in Alberta Province.