Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman took part in high-level talks at the White House. His vision was to have close economic and defense relations with the United States. During this visit, former President Donald Trump had his first official meeting with bin Salman. The conversation unfolded against the backdrop of the troubling history, especially the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, that has so severely tarnished bin Salman’s international image.
When the crown prince—the de facto leader of Saudi Arabia—came to visit the White House. He was given an extravagant welcome, replete with pomp and circumstance. These meetings were intended to formalize Saudi Arabia’s investment commitments to the United States. Beyond this, though, they confronted some of the most urgent geopolitical challenges.
To reclaim his image, bin Salman is double-timing it on increasing Saudi Arabia’s pledge. His intentions are admirable though, as his hopes are to direct almost $1 trillion into supporting investments in US. Consideration of the impacts on tech industries He shared a glaring lack of enthusiasm for advanced tech. Mr. Fridman remarked that computing power demand in the Kingdom is huge. Additionally, he underscored the ambition for American-made advanced chips to support Saudi Arabia’s technological development.
We experienced intimate conversations on critical issues, such as the Abraham Accords. These arrangements are primarily about normalizing relations between Israel and a handful of other Arab countries. Trump highlighted that bin Salman was open to the concept of encouraging some kind of reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians. This totally undercut the crown prince’s strong emphasis on his own commitment to a two-state solution. Today, he’s still out there promoting peaceful coexistence in the region.
During the meeting, Trump dropped a bombshell about the ongoing scandal over Khashoggi’s murder. He repeatedly claimed that bin Salman “knew nothing about it.” He further remarked, “Whether you like [Khashoggi] or didn’t like him, things happen.” This cavalier dismissal of the brutal assassination reflects Trump’s continued support for the murderous crown prince in the face of widespread international condemnation.
“A lot of people didn’t like that gentleman [Khashoggi] that you’re talking about,” – Donald Trump
Trump also praised bin Salman’s governance, stating, “What he’s done is incredible in terms of human rights and everything else,” and expressed pride in their longstanding friendship. This flamboyant praise is indicative of Trump’s faith in bin Salman’s leadership and his wish to elevate bilateral ties to new heights.
Talks between the two leaders underscored the US administration’s decision to sell advanced F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. This move is the exact opposite of the US’s current arrangements with Israel. If completed, this prospective arms package would mark a major step forward in defense relations between the two countries.
Bin Salman and Trump proclaimed a series of high-value deals and investments. These agreements, capped with their military and technological collaboration, are poised to deepen their economic ties. The crown prince is keen on positioning Saudi Arabia as a vital player in global markets while navigating through past controversies.