Saudi Arabia is actively negotiating a US-Saudi Arabia security pact with the Trump administration, aiming to finalize the agreement during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s upcoming visit to Washington next month. The potential deal is expected to mirror the recent US-Qatar defence commitment, which pledges military support in the event of an attack on the Gulf nation.
The proposed Saudi US defence pact is anticipated to include deeper military collaboration, enhanced intelligence sharing, and a clear assurance of American support in times of regional conflict, according to sources familiar with the talks.
A senior Trump administration official confirmed that discussions are ongoing: “There are discussions about signing something when the crown prince comes, but the details are in flux.” However, both the White House and the State Department have withheld specific comments on the content of the agreement.
The US State Department noted that military cooperation with Saudi Arabia remains “a strong bedrock of our regional strategy.” It added that the US is committed to Gulf security and will continue working with Riyadh to promote stability, deny terrorists safe haven, and encourage regional integration.
Momentum Builds After Qatar Executive Order
The push for a US-Saudi Arabia security pact follows President Donald Trump’s recent executive order declaring that the US would take “all lawful and appropriate measures” — including military action if necessary — to defend Qatar in the wake of Israeli strikes on Hamas officials in Doha.
This executive order sent shockwaves across the Gulf, where nations like Saudi Arabia have long relied on Washington as a key security partner.
Saudi Arabia had previously been in months-long negotiations with the Biden administration to secure a broader defence treaty in exchange for normalizing ties with Israel. However, that effort stalled following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel and the ongoing war in Gaza.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been vocal in condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza, accusing the country of genocide. He has also insisted that Saudi normalization with Israel will only occur if an independent Palestinian state is established — a condition Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly rejects.
Standalone Deal Under Trump Seen as More Likely
In light of failed progress under Biden, Riyadh is now turning to Trump for a standalone defence agreement that could be achieved either via formal treaty or executive order. The Saudi prince, who maintains a close relationship with Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, is set to make his first US trip since 2018 — during Trump’s first term.
“I’m expecting, on the back end of the executive order with Qatar, that there will be similar progress on defence and security issues,” said Firas Maksad, managing director for MENA at Eurasia Group. “They are working on something much more robust than what already exists.”
He noted that enhancing defence ties with the US is a critical part of the prince’s vision for the kingdom, especially as Saudi Arabia pours trillions into development and modernization projects.
Yet, not everyone is convinced of a smooth path ahead. Hussein Ibish, a senior fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, pointed to the potential sticking point of Saudi-Israeli normalization.
“That doesn’t mean we can’t get past it — because all Trump has to do is decide it’s a good idea. But we’re not there yet,” Ibish said.
Military Sales and Strategic Interests
Saudi Arabia is already one of the largest purchasers of American weaponry. During Trump’s 2017 visit to the kingdom, the White House unveiled a $142 billion arms deal — nearly double Saudi Arabia’s entire 2024 defence budget.
That deal was described by the White House as the largest in US history and included systems for air force, space capabilities, missile defence, and border security.
However, over the past 15 years, Gulf nations including Saudi Arabia have become increasingly uncertain about the consistency of US foreign policy in the region — fueling the urgency behind this renewed push for a concrete Saudi US defence pact.
As Prince Mohammed prepares to meet Trump, a robust, binding agreement may help alleviate those concerns — while potentially reshaping the regional security architecture.
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This story was first reported by the Financial Times. Read the full article here.
