Occasionally, seemingly ordinary engagements feel like a turning point that breaks with what came before, leading to broader, deeper, and more solid paths. They draw on the legacy of past successes, and they open windows from the present into the future. The most significant encounters between states are those built on a deep reading of shared interests. Interests are the firm bridge that connects nations and peoples, rendering agreements durable and allowing them to survive tremors and surprises.
President Donald Trump summed up his meeting and relationship with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman by saying, “He thinks about his country, and I think about mine.” Trump is stubbornly pursuing his dream for America, and Mohammed bin Salman is stubbornly pursuing his dream for Saudi Arabia. The future is shaped by dreamers, especially when they can underpin their dreams with figures.
Interests are the pillars of any long-term partnership. They consolidate when they are built on mutual trust between two nations, two states, and two leaders. Since his first term began, Trump has been clear, consistently reiterating that he understands that extensive cooperation with Saudi Arabia is crucial. He recognizes Saudi Arabia’s economic, political, Arab, and Islamic weight. He has also consistently shown confidence in his ability to build a firm relationship with both the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Saudi leadership has similarly always seemed confident that it would build a deep strategic partnership with Trump’s America.
Interests are the foundation, and trust is the key. Trump came into this relationship with Saudi Arabia fully aware of the immense opportunities it offered his country in several fields. And the man behind “Vision 2030” has shown that he is well aware that the US can offer Saudi Arabia what few others can: economically, politically, in defense, in technology, and in artificial intelligence, the new key to progress. Its close relationship with Saudi Arabia has given the Trump administration a privileged vantage point of the perpetual crises in the Arab and Islamic worlds. The Kingdom’s close relationship with America has allowed Saudi Arabia to leverage its strength and play a more substantial role in regional and international politics and in energy security.
Rarely does a meeting at the White House draw so much attention from nations, peoples, media outlets, and business leaders across the globe. It is natural for major powers to follow this development, given the significance of both countries, their economies, and their leaders. It is also natural for the people of the Middle East to follow these unprecedented scenes. And it is natural for Saudis to take pride in this meeting that reflects the most influential state in the world’s esteem for their country, as well as Trump’s personal regard for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The crucial meeting was a meeting of opportunities. Investment deals that open broad horizons were struck, and Saudis will see the fruits of these agreements, which are especially crucial for the Saudi private sector. It was also an opportune occasion for American companies seeking to expand their footprint in Saudi Arabia and their role in its ongoing transformation. The meeting also creates opportunities for other gains that could be made as the American–Saudi partnership in creating foundations of lasting stability in the Middle East deepens. It is no secret that the early shifts in the US approach to the idea of a path toward a Palestinian state were themselves among the fruits of Saudi Arabia’s influence and its awareness that the Middle East needs solid pillars upon which to build a viable peace.
It is also a moment of opportunities for building and safeguarding stability. Saudi Arabia understands that the transformation it is undergoing requires a safe neighborhood. A prosperous Saudi Arabia must also be a strong Saudi Arabia that can ensure its stability and effectively contribute to building stability in the Middle East. That is why the defense dimension of the visit was crucial: reaffirming the two countries’ cooperation in protecting stability, American defense commitments, and arms deals.
And it is also an inflection point for the future. In the field of artificial intelligence, Saudi Arabia has chosen to be a partner in shaping and building the new world rather than merely importing its achievements.
It is no surprise that the White House prepared an exceptional reception for its Saudi guest. This reception reflects the United States’ deep appreciation for what Prince Mohammed bin Salman has achieved in recent years, both domestically and abroad. The “new Saudi Arabia” has secured a distinguished position on the international stage. Its weight within the G20 has grown, and it has clearly contributed to building a bulwark against shocks and tensions that have threatened the global economy. Moreover, the “new Saudi Arabia,” which gives great importance to reinforcing strategic cooperation with the US, has also built strong relations with other global powers. Prince Mohammed bin Salman had anticipated Asia’s rise early on, and Saudi Arabia has made strides in enhancing relations with China, the world’s second-largest economy. The Saudi relationship with China did not prevent the Kingdom from fortifying ties with India, which, in turn, did not prevent Saudi–Pakistani cooperation from expanding to include a publicly acknowledged and deeply rooted defense commitment.
In Washington, the journalists (me included) in attendance could sense that they were witnessing something extraordinary. The White House welcomed the visiting prince with open arms, and Trump welcomed his guest in the Oval Office with unprecedented warmth. It was an exceptional moment in every sense of the word. It was historic. Saudis who have never forgotten the historic meeting between the country’s founder, King Abdulaziz Al Saud, and US President Franklin Roosevelt in 1945 will long remember yesterday’s meeting as well. The meeting aboard the USS Quincy secured its place in history. Yesterday’s meeting at the White House secured its place in history, as well as a place in the future. It was an occasion for building durable bridges: bridges of economic cooperation, investment, and prosperity, bridges of scientific and technological progress, and bridges of security and stability.
