Trump Defends MBS on Khashoggi; US Grants Saudi Non-NATO Ally Status

U.S. President Donald Trump offered a strong defense of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) during his White House visit on Tuesday, asserting that MBS "knew nothing about" the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a statement that contradicts the findings of U.S. intelligence agencies.

The visit marked MBS's first to the White House in over seven years, serving as a significant effort to rehabilitate his global image, which was severely damaged by the incident. U.S. intelligence concluded that MBS approved the operation to capture or kill Khashoggi, a U.S.-based Washington Post columnist and critic of the Saudi leadership.

Trump announced the designation of Saudi Arabia as a Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA), granting the kingdom military and economic privileges. The two sides signed a Strategic Defense Agreement aimed at "fortifying deterrence across the Middle East."

The U.S. approved future deliveries of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, which would be a significant policy shift as Israel has historically been the only Middle Eastern nation to possess the advanced aircraft. Saudi Arabia also agreed to purchase 300 American tanks.

Trump stated that U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities had increased Saudi Arabia's security. A joint declaration was signed on the completion of negotiations for civil nuclear energy cooperation, intended to build a legal foundation for a long-term partnership. However, progress is hindered by Saudi Arabia's resistance to a U.S. stipulation that would rule out uranium enrichment or spent fuel reprocessing.

MBS promised to increase Saudi investment in the U.S. to $1 trillion (up from a $600 billion pledge), though details and a timetable were not provided. Agreements were also signed on artificial intelligence and a framework for critical minerals collaboration. Trump reported a "positive response" regarding Saudi Arabia normalizing ties with Israel.

MBS maintained his condition for joining the Abraham Accords: Israel must provide a path to Palestinian statehood, a condition Israel has refused. Trump praised the crown prince for doing an "incredible" job on human rights, which drew immediate criticism.

Khashoggi's widow, Hanan Elatr Khashoggi, rebuked Trump's defense, stating that nothing justifies the "horrible crime." The meeting was seen as a high point in U.S.-Saudi ties, succeeding a period of strained relations under Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, who met with MBS but did not host him at the White House.