Saudi Crown Prince to Meet Trump at White House on November 18

Washington: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on November 18 for an official working visit, according to U.S. officials.

The meeting will focus on strengthening defence cooperation and exploring the possibility of Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords, the regional peace framework first introduced during Trump’s earlier term.

Officials said both countries may also discuss a long-term security agreement, and sources told Reuters that a defence pact could be signed during the visit, though final details are still being negotiated.

Saudi Arabia has long depended on the United States for advanced weapons and military support, remaining one of Washington’s largest arms buyers. The two nations’ relationship has historically been based on oil trade and defence cooperation.

Reports earlier this year suggested that both sides are considering a new security framework to formalise their decades-old partnership.

A major topic expected in the talks is the future of Saudi-Israeli relations. Trump has encouraged Riyadh to join other Arab states that normalised ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords, including the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco. However, Saudi leaders have repeatedly stated that progress on a Palestinian state must come first.

In a recent interview with CBS’ 60 Minutes, President Trump said he was confident Saudi Arabia would eventually join the Accords.

The crown prince’s upcoming trip highlights the strategic importance of U.S.-Saudi ties as both countries balance regional diplomacy and defence priorities amid shifting Middle East dynamics.