WASHINGTON: Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman said on Tuesday that the Kingdom will increase its investments in the United States to $1 trillion, up from the $600 billion previously pledged, during a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House.
“I believe, Mr. President, today and tomorrow, we can announce that we are going to increase that $600 billion to almost $1 trillion for investment, real investment, and real opportunity,” the Saudi Crown Prince said during a press conference.
Trump also said on Tuesday that the US would sell F-35 stealth fighter jets to the Kingdom.
The Saudi Crown Prince also said discussions with Trump and US officials during his visit would revolve around multi-billion-dollar investments in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure.
During their press conference, Crown Prince Mohammed said Saudi Arabia wants to ensure regional security. He called for a clear path toward a two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Trump also said he can see a civilian nuclear deal happening with the Kingdom and that he had reached a defence deal with Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi Crown Prince arrived at the White House in Washington earlier on Tuesday, where he was welcomed by Trump. US fighter jets flew over the White House as part of an official ceremony in honour of the Crown Prince.
Earlier, Trump welcomed the Saudi Crown Prince to the White House with a military guard of honour, a cannon salute and a flyover by US warplanes.
Talks between the two leaders are expected to advance security ties, civil nuclear cooperation and multibillion-dollar business deals with the Kingdom.
Hours before the Crown Prince’s arrival, Trump said he is considering authorising the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia.
“I will say that we will be doing that. We’ll be selling F-35s,” Trump told reporters when asked about the possibility.
He said Riyadh had shown a strong interest in purchasing the Lockheed Martin-built aircraft. “They wanna buy a lot of jets,” he said. “They’ve asked me to look at it. They want to buy a lot of 35, but they want to buy actually more than that, fighter jets.”
Saudi-US trade volume exceeds $500 billion
The volume of trade exchange between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States has surpassed $500 billion over the past decade, making the US the Kingdom’s second-largest import partner, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Since 2020, the trade volume has grown by more than 50%, demonstrating the depth and strength of the economic relationship between the two countries.
This strategic partnership enhances the competitiveness of vital sectors, attracts quality investments, and expands trade cooperation, ultimately supporting the economic prosperity of both nations.
In 2024, the trade volume reached approximately $33 billion. The most significant Saudi exports were fertilisers and organic chemical products, while the primary US imports included machinery, equipment, mechanical tools, and automobiles, totalling $9 billion.
Preliminary data, cited by SPA, indicate that trade between the two countries reached around $16 billion by the first half of 2025.
