Washington: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was warmly welcomed by US President Donald Trump on a visit that underscored the kingdom’s growing ties with the United States. During a meeting in the Oval Office at the White House, President Trump defended Prince bin Salman, insisting he had no prior knowledge of the 2018 killing of Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi authorities.
According to Thai News Agency, Trump also praised the crown prince for his human rights record, but did not elaborate. Human rights groups have previously criticized Prince bin Salman, not only for Khashoggi’s killing but also for his crackdown on dissent in the country. Prince bin Salman pledged to increase the country’s investment in the US to $1 trillion, up from $600 billion, when Trump visited Saudi Arabia in May, but he did not provide specifics or a timeline.
Trump later told reporters that the two countries had reached a “defense agreement,” without elaborating, and that Saudi Arabia would buy advanced US-made F-35 fighter jets. Afterwards, Mr Trump hosted a dinner for Prince bin Salman, which was also attended by Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
During the dinner, Trump announced that the US would designate Saudi Arabia a “major non-NATO ally,” a status that would bring military benefits. The dinner’s guest list underscored the political and commercial benefits of the relationship. In addition to Ronaldo and Musk, attendees included FIFA President Gianni Infantino, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr.
Ronaldo, who plays for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, attended as a symbol of Saudi Arabia’s use of sports to boost its global image, while Musk’s appearance at the event could signal a compromise in his relationship with Trump. Prince bin Salman called the day “a special day,” saying the economic sphere between the two countries was expanding.