Trump designates Saudi Arabia as major non-NATO ally in new defense deal
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On Tuesday, President Donald Trump announced at a White House dinner commemorating 80 years of U.S.-Saudi relations that the United States will designate Saudi Arabia as a key non-NATO ally and announce a defense and economic partnership with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Welcoming the guests at the official dinner, Trump thanked bin Salman for his US visit and investment. The Crown Prince made brief statements, thanking Trump and expressing his gratitude, and said he looked forward to the continuation of the partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia.
Before announcing the new appointment, Trump reflected on the nations’ long-standing relationship and recalled the 1945 meeting between President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and King Abdulaziz.
“It is a special privilege to host His Majesty in Washington this year, as we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the first meeting between our two countries. [a] “The President of the United States and a Saudi king,” Trump said, “The two of them became very close and warm friends… and now you have the best friend you’ve ever had.”
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Saudi Arabian Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman (left) shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump during a dinner in the East Room of the White House on November 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
He added that since the United States and Saudi Arabia became “enduring partners,” they “made that partnership closer and stronger than ever” on Tuesday night.
Trump said that the partnership had reached a new level after a day of meetings and signings with Bin Salman. He praised Saudi Arabia’s modernization, calling it “an economic engine and a modern-day miracle” and said new agreements in energy, minerals and artificial intelligence were “unprecedented”.
He added that Saudi Arabia agreed to increase its investment in the United States from $600 billion to $1 trillion; He said this move would create jobs in America and further strengthen the growing alliance.
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President Donald Trump meets with Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on November 18, 2025. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)
“That’s why I’m pleased to announce tonight that we’re taking our military cooperation to even higher levels by officially designating Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally, which is something that’s very important to them,” Trump said. he said.
He added that both countries had recently signed a “historic strategic defense agreement”, calling it evidence of a “stronger and more capable alliance” that would serve the “best interests of peace”.
The announcement doubled down on Trump’s earlier promise that Saudi Arabia would invest $1 trillion in the United States.
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President Donald Trump (R) meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, on November 18, 2025. (Nathan Howard/Politico/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“He said he’s going to raise it to $1 trillion,” Trump told the audience. “So $1 trillion is invested in the United States… and now you have the hottest country in the world.”
Trump also noted the largest arms purchase in history ($142 billion in American military equipment and services) and said the move would “mark and make both of our nations more secure and strengthen the kingdom’s role as a key force for stability and security in the Middle East.”
The president said the new defense deal would make both countries safer, citing a recent U.S. military operation that used B-2 bombers against what he described as an Iranian nuclear threat.
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President Donald Trump poses with the agreement signed at a summit of world leaders to end the Gaza war in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on October 13, 2025, amid a U.S.-brokered prisoner-hostage exchange and ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. (Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters)
“Saudi Arabia has never been as safe as it is now,” he said. “There was always a little cloud over your head…that cloud is not there anymore.”
Following the announcement, Trump linked the agreement to the broader Middle East peace agenda, citing the UN resolution approving the end of the war in Gaza, the return of hostages, and the “Peace Board” initiative.
“This is a board like no other,” he said. “There will be presidents of important countries… and I am honored to be elected to this chair.”
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Bin Salman thanked Trump for the “warm and wonderful welcome”, described the day as “special” and emphasized the growing economic relationship between the two countries.
The crown prince also said he believes this is a great opportunity and vowed to continue focusing on implementing and increasing opportunities between the two countries.
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Trump closed his speech by saying the alliance was the strongest moment in U.S.-Saudi relations since Roosevelt’s meeting with King Abdulaziz.
“Maybe one day we’ll talk about how we’re two great guys,” he said. “Forget great – it is great – but two great men doing tremendous work for their country.”
