WASHINGTON: Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman received an elaborate welcome at the White House on Tuesday as US President Donald Trump hosted him for a day of high-level meetings.
Trump greeted the Saudi Crown Prince at the White House entrance, flanked by senior US and Saudi officials.
A formation of fighter jets conducted a flyover moments before the two leaders entered the building. Uniformed soldiers held US and Saudi flags outside the White House.
The visit marks the Crown Prince’s first official trip to the United States since Trump began his second term.
Trump’s first foreign trip of both his first and second terms started in Saudi Arabia, underscoring the weight he places on ties with the Kingdom.
Deepening strategic partnership
The White House said the Crown Prince is visiting the United States at the invitation of President Trump. The invitation reflects Washington’s recognition of Saudi Arabia’s role in regional and global security.
The Saudi government said the visit is taking place on the directives of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and in response to Trump’s invitation.
A statement from the Royal Court said the two leaders will discuss bilateral relations, opportunities to enhance cooperation, and issues of mutual concern.
It is pertinent to mention that President Trump visited Saudi Arabia on May 13, his first official state visit of his second administration, as he did during his first tenure.
Agreements worth $300 billion were signed during the US President’s visit, and the Crown Prince had noted that the Kingdom is exploring $600 billion in investment opportunities.
The two countries also signed memoranda of understanding in the fields of energy, defence, mineral resources, and health, along with a strategic economic partnership.
Saudi-US ties continue to expand across political, economic, defence and strategic sectors. The partnership remains a central pillar of stability and prosperity in the Middle East.
Official schedule for the Saudi Crown Prince’s visit
The White House released the Crown Prince’s full official programme for Tuesday.
The Crown Prince arrived at 11:00 a.m. local time (1600 GMT), followed by an official welcome ceremony.
Trump greeted him at 11:15 a.m. (1615 GMT). The two leaders will then hold a bilateral meeting at 11:45 a.m. (1645 GMT), which will be followed by a working lunch at 12:15 p.m. (1715 GMT).
Later in the afternoon, Trump will join the Crown Prince for a farewell at 2:00 p.m. (7:00 p.m. GMT), after which the Crown Prince is scheduled to meet lawmakers in both the House and Senate. In the evening, Trump and the First Lady will participate in a greeting at 6:40 p.m. (11:40 p.m. GMT), followed by a receiving line at 6:45 p.m. (11:45 p.m. GMT).
At 7:15 p.m. (12:15 a.m. GMT, Wednesday), Trump and the First Lady will attend a black-tie dinner with the Crown Prince, the Saudi delegation, and senior business leaders from both countries. The day will conclude with a final farewell at 9:10 p.m. (2:10 a.m. GMT, Wednesday).
On Wednesday, the Crown Prince, Trump, and more than 400 CEOs from Saudi and US companies will attend the US-Saudi Investment Forum at the Kennedy Center. The Crown Prince is expected to depart the United States after the event.
On Wednesday, Trump and the Crown Prince are scheduled to attend the US-Saudi Investment Forum at the Kennedy Centre alongside more than 400 CEOs from both countries. The Crown Prince is expected to depart the United States after the event.
Trump signals approval for F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia
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.”
