During a recent meeting, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a lavish reception from former President Donald Trump, reigniting discussions about their relationship amid ongoing controversies surrounding human rights violations in Saudi Arabia. The meeting, which occurred during Trump’s second administration, aimed to solidify a staggering $1 trillion in deals between the United States and Saudi Arabia.
Even as this high-profile encounter unfolds, it does so against a dark backdrop. The 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi effectively ended what little remained of Mohammed bin Salman’s international reputation. Though US intelligence agencies have determined that the Crown Prince personally ordered the assassination, he has repeatedly denied this and called the charges baseless. This incident did make him the world’s most notorious pariah. He was met with universal outrage for his reported involvement in Khashoggi’s kidnapping and murder.
Though the nay-saying was loud, Trump made his opposition clear by sharing his own support for the Saudi strongman.
“You’re mentioning someone that was extremely controversial,” – Donald Trump
Trump continued to brush off questions related to Khashoggi’s murder, stressing his desire to maintain close relationships with Saudi Arabia.
“Whether you like him or didn’t like him, things happen, but [Prince Mohammed] knew nothing about it. Why did you have to embarrass our guest by asking about that?” – Donald Trump
Yet the former president’s sunny comments about the Kingdom run deeper than personality. They reflect a larger strategic desire to expand both economic and security ties with Riyadh. Jared Kushner Mohammed bin Salman has invested almost $5 billion into a fund controlled by Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. These investments are consistent with his overall strategy to invest alongside US ventures. These economic ties further reflect the Crown Prince’s overarching goals of creating strong, bilateral economic partnerships with the US.
In pursuit of these new alliances, Mohammed bin Salman is pushing for the transfer of F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia, a move that faces objections from traditional allies like Israel. And critics are right there to blow the whistle on such transactions. They raise concerns that China might use Saudi channels to gain access to sensitive US military technology.
To demonstrate the thawing diplomatic relationship, both leaders highlighted the opportunities for cash-cow contracts. Trump remarked on the scale of their economic endeavors:
“We’re doing numbers that nobody has ever done,” – Donald Trump
As Mohammed bin Salman seeks to rebrand his image and strengthen ties with Washington, he faces the challenge of overcoming international scrutiny regarding his past actions. The Crown Prince envisions a new era of partnership with the United States. His success will come to a large extent based on how he balances these controversies in the pursuit of these strategic interests.
The reception and subsequent discussions between Trump and Mohammed bin Salman underscore a significant shift in diplomatic relations between the two nations. The $1 trillion in proposed deals are just a reflection of both leaders’ long-term ambitions. It further reveals their willingness to overlook previous malfeasance for the potential of future economic gains and increased security.