U.S. President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) on Monday announced a sweeping set of strategic agreements worth $600 billion, underscoring a deepening alliance centered on defense, artificial intelligence (AI), energy, and space exploration. The agreements were unveiled during Trump’s visit to Riyadh, the Saudi capital.
Key highlights of the deals include:
Historic Defense Agreement: The United States and Saudi Arabia signed a landmark defense pact valued at $142 billion, which may include the sale of advanced weaponry such as F-35 fighter jets. Described as the largest of its kind, the deal marks a significant commitment to military cooperation between the two nations.
Saudi Investment in the U.S.: Saudi Arabia pledged to invest $600 billion in the United States over the next four years, with a strong focus on AI, energy infrastructure, defense industries, and aerospace. For instance, Saudi tech firm Humain plans to deploy thousands of Nvidia AI chips to build state-of-the-art data centers, while DataVolt is set to invest $20 billion in U.S. data infrastructure and energy projects.
U.S.–Saudi Space Cooperation: NASA and the Saudi Space Commission signed a new agreement aimed at strengthening joint space research, in line with the principles of the Artemis Accords. The partnership paves the way for joint space exploration missions and the development of space-related technologies.
While the deals reflect a significant tightening of U.S.–Saudi ties, they have also raised concerns about potential implications for U.S. relations with Israel, especially amid speculation that Trump may skip a visit to Israel during his Middle East tour. Moreover, the scope of the defense agreements has prompted renewed scrutiny over the regional arms race.
Overall, the strategic partnerships underline a growing alignment between Washington and Riyadh in shaping economic, technological, and military cooperation across key sectors.
