Seven years after Washington shut its doors on him over the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman returned to the U.S. capital on Tuesday to a reception that showed just how dramatically his fortunes have changed.
From promises of F-35 stealth fighters to access to the world’s fastest AI chips, he now sits at the Centre of President Donald Trump’s new strategy for reshaping the Middle East.
A Remarkable diplomatic comeback
In 2018, the crown prince couldn’t set foot in Washington without triggering widespread outrage. U.S. intelligence had linked him to Khashoggi’s murder and then-presidential candidate Joe Biden vowed to treat Saudi Arabia as a “pariah.”
But on Tuesday, the White House ceremony looked like a geopolitical reset. Trump positioned the crown prince as a key partner in building a “new Middle East” — a dramatic reversal from the isolation the Saudi leader once faced.
Among the biggest takeaways: Trump agreed in principle to sell F-35 fighter jets to Riyadh, despite the long-standing Israeli objections to such a plan. At the same time, Saudis avoided any immediate commitment to joining the Abraham Accords, pushing discussions on recognising Israel further into the distance.
Playing the long game on Israel and Palestine
On Wednesday, in the Oval Office, Prince Mohammed repeated an oft-heard yet strategic message:
“We want to be part of the Abraham Accords, but we also want to be sure that we secure a clear path for a two-state solution.”
He knew the comment would be firmly rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but it was an important signal both to Washington and to the Arab world.
But the focus promptly shifted to economics. Prince Mohammed promised up to $1 trillion of investment and purchases in the United States — a headline number that Trump eagerly showcased, though the timeline is intentionally left vague.
Chips, China, and the new tech battlefield
Apart from defence, the most consequential gain for Saudi Arabia may be access to top-tier U.S. semiconductor technology. The kingdom is building massive AI-powered data centres, and the advanced American chips are vital for that ambition.
Above all, Riyadh let it be known that China is ready to step in if Washington hesitates, indirect but effective negotiating approach.
Meghan O’Sullivan from Harvard’s Belfer Center termed it an “ultimate comeback visit” in observing that MBS has tied together:
An aggressive AI and tech strategy
Oil policies that keep international prices stable
A calibrated China card
This combination has made Saudi Arabia “more relevant to U.S. interests than ever before,” she said.
The Deals Still in Limbo
Aside from these announcements, some main issues remain unsolved:
1. Nuclear cooperation
Talks on allowing Saudi Arabia to enrich its own uranium – a sensitive step with potential military implications – are pushed into the future once again.
2. A full defence pact
Both sides have made hints at a historic agreement, but no binding deal – put forth. The White House released only a vague fact sheet describing general areas of cooperation.
3. F-35 sales
Congress needs to approve the F-35 sale, and even then, the global waitlist is long. Each F-35 costs anywhere between $80 million and $110 million, and the White House did not disclose how many jets Saudi Arabia could get.
The symbolism, nonetheless, is significant: granting Riyadh access to America’s most advanced military and digital tools integrates the kingdom deeper into the U.S.-led security and tech ecosystem-a remarkable shift two decades after the 9/11 attacks.
Reading the American President
Experts say the crown prince’s success comes from understanding how to navigate U.S. politics, particularly Trump’s personal style.
His strategy began years earlier. After the CIA’s conclusion that he likely approved Khashoggi’s killing, MBS stepped back from Washington, focused on business diplomacy and waited.
A 2022 visit by Biden — and his highly publicized fist-bump with the prince — reopened the door. By Trump’s second term, the opportunity had fully returned.
That explains the president’s angry reaction on Tuesday when an ABC reporter asked about the CIA assessment. Trump dismissed Khashoggi as “extremely controversial” before adding the now-viral line:
“Things happen.”
The crown prince, anticipating the question, gave a more nuanced answer about reforms and preventing future abuses.
What comes next?
Whether the massive investment promises, fighter-jet deals and tech partnerships materialise will take months or years to verify. Much depends on Congress, export-control laws and the pace of U.S. semiconductor production.
But the early signs-especially, the rapid movement on AI chips and data-center cooperation-suggest that Saudi Arabia’s pivot toward becoming a tech-driven power is accelerating. The deeper question is what this renewed partnership means for issues like human rights, nuclear proliferation, and long-term regional stability.
Those topics were largely absent from Tuesday’s public remarks. In the era of Trump, relationships are often measured not by treaties but by optics — and on that front, Prince Mohammed’s visit was a clear victory.
His delegation even left the White House carrying gold-embossed gift bags, a small but fitting symbol of how far the once-isolated leader has come.
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