We were arranged, as journalists dispatched to cover the historic meeting at the White House, between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and US President Donald Trump. Because the F-35 jet deal is tied to defense and security, it was the focal point of the coverage in American print and broadcast media. Whether they were opposed or supportive of the idea, everyone was asking and answering the same question: Would the fighter jet deal impact US national security?
These new generation jets have been enhanced by the integration of artificial intelligence tools that add to their well-established stealth and detection capabilities. In recent years, however, the Saudi leadership has become an increasingly trusted partner of the current US administration. Indeed, Riyadh’s focus on resolving regional disputes and defusing tensions is perfectly aligned with the pursuits of President Trump, who constantly boasts of his prowess as a “deal-maker,” as we have seen with the Gaza deal and elsewhere.
This trust is key to addressing concerns regarding safeguards that keep advanced weaponry out of the hands of Washington’s adversaries. Saudi arms deals have always been controversial, notably because of fears of shifting the balance of power in the region and undermining the military supremacy of Israel, which does not want competitors nearby. The fact is, however, that acquiring arms does not necessarily entail using them. Saudi Arabia is not like Israel or Iran. It seeks to avoid conflict because wars lead to stagnation, obstructing the path to the future, and hindering progress and innovation.
Nonetheless, Saudi Arabia has long sought to develop its air force, a legitimate objective. In the 1980s, the Kingdom and the US concluded the AWACS deal, which was approved by Carter and implemented by Reagan. Before these exceptional pieces of American military hardware were acquired, King Abdulaziz and Roosevelt concluded the famous 1945 Quincy security agreement. The recent visit, then, is part of a long historical trajectory.
The other agreements reached during the visit were not politically controversial, as they revolved around investments in various sectors. However, they did cover discussions around advanced semiconductors, which form the backbone of artificial intelligence systems. The United States itself does not manufacture enough of these chips to meet its needs, and demand will only increase in the future. Accordingly, it needs partners- not only Taiwan, which manufactures the best chips in the world and is currently facing pressure from China.
Saudi Arabia has the space, the energy supply, the financial resources needed to build data centers, as well as the water needed to cool them, making it an ideal partner.
During the meeting, I asked the Crown Prince how he expects the partnership with the United States on these massive projects to evolve (artificial intelligence, the exploration and refining of newly discovered rare minerals in Saudi territory, supply chains, and others). The Crown Prince replied that he is open to seeing these partnerships go as far as possible.
These are long-term investments. They require infrastructure, then operations, manufacturing, and finally production. One trillion dollars only seems excessive when we fail to consider the outcomes of these projects, will take a long time to materialize. It is not a figure on a check awaiting a signature; these are projects that anticipate the future and the emerging demands of the global market.
For my second question, I asked President Trump about his strategic vision of the Saudi–American relationship: politically, economically, and in terms of leadership. He replied that he could not imagine this relationship being better than it is today. He went on to speak at length about how it benefits both countries, going so far as saying that Saudi Arabia is a strategic non-NATO ally.
A large group of Saudi business leaders attended the Saudi–American Investment Forum, concluding agreements worth about half a billion dollars across various sectors. However, we must not lose sight of Saudi Arabia’s Islamic and Arab role and its duty to empower nations afflicted by wars and conflicts. Just as Prince Mohammed bin Salman succeeded in lifting sanctions on Syria last May, reinforcing its political stability, this time he asked President Trump to look into the crisis in Sudan. This effort was, in my view, among the most important achievements of this visit. The Crown Prince used the positive momentum and the warmth of the US President to push for peace in Sudan, which has sadly slipped down the list of political and media priorities because of the Gaza war. However, what has been happening in Sudan is no less horrific or brutal than what happened in Gaza. Indeed, it is even worse.
Is everyone pleased with the success of the visit? Certainly not. Some are angry. They rage in silence, both inside and outside the US. It is difficult to drive attention from the future to dwell on talk about the past. Even the media gossip that some journalists might believe to be significant amounts, in truth, to obsolete chatter.
One day, a hundred years from now, when another ruler from the House of Saud will visit the White House, a journalist will claim that the descendants of the victims of 9/11 are unhappy with the visit... These are media games that will continue to be used. However flimsy this rhetoric may be, it is how the malicious thrive.
