Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Meet President Trump at White House on Nov. 18

Post by : Raina Nasser

Washington: A senior White House official confirmed Monday that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is scheduled for an official working meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House on November 18.

The session represents a pivotal juncture in US–Saudi relations, with officials expected to address a spectrum of strategic questions, including talks over a potential bilateral defense agreement and Riyadh's possible linkage to the Abraham Accords.

President Trump has actively advocated for Saudi participation in the normalisation framework that the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco joined in 2020. Saudi leadership, however, has reiterated that meaningful progress toward Palestinian statehood remains a precondition for formal steps toward normalisation.

Mr. Trump has publicly expressed confidence that "the Saudis will ultimately join the accords," signalling optimism about future diplomatic movement.

Separate reports indicate negotiators are exploring the contours of a defence pact that could be finalised during the visit, potentially offering Saudi Arabia firmer US security guarantees and expanded access to advanced American defence systems.

The United States and Saudi Arabia maintain a long-standing strategic partnership, combining Washington's security assurances and arms support with Riyadh's central role in global energy markets. Earlier this year, the two sides announced a major arms agreement worth about $142 billion during Mr. Trump's trip to Riyadh.

Analysts say the November meeting will likely influence the trajectory of US–Saudi cooperation as regional dynamics in the Middle East continue to evolve.