• Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman makes his first Washington visit since 2018, marking a major diplomatic reset.
  • The visit culminates in a major defense agreement, including the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia.
  • Economic talks center on a $600 billion Saudi investment pledge and cooperation on AI and civilian nuclear technology.

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman concluded a high-stakes day of diplomacy in Washington on Tuesday, his first visit to the U.S. capital since 2018, with President Donald Trump announcing a landmark sale of F-35 fighter jets and both leaders signaling a new chapter in the strategic partnership.

The tightly scheduled day, which began with a formal greeting on the South Lawn and ended with an evening state dinner, was aimed at moving past years of strained relations. The agenda was dominated by efforts to finalize a major defense cooperation agreement and advance talks on technology transfer, according to people familiar with the discussions.

“This is about securing the future for both our nations,” President Trump said during a brief appearance with the Crown Prince before their bilateral meeting in the Oval Office. “The economic potential is tremendous.”

The centerpiece of the renewed alliance is the confirmed sale of F-35 jets, a move that analysts say will significantly alter the military balance in the Middle East. The deal, which does not require a formal treaty with Congress, is part of a broader defense and security pact the two nations are negotiating.

Efforts to expand the relationship beyond traditional energy and defense ties were also prominent. The Crown Prince is actively seeking U.S. backing for Saudi Arabia’s ambitions in artificial intelligence and is negotiating for a civilian nuclear program, key pillars of the kingdom's plan to diversify its economy away from oil and compete with regional rivals like the UAE.

The visit coincides with a Saudi pledge to invest $600 billion in the United States over the coming years. Follow-up events are already being planned to connect American and Saudi business leaders, aiming to deepen cooperation in energy, technology, and commercial sectors.

A senior administration official, who asked not to be named discussing private deliberations, said the talks on AI and nuclear technology were "substantive and forward-looking," though many details remain to be finalized.

The Crown Prince's return to Washington carries significant political weight, given that his last visit preceded the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Despite a U.S. intelligence report concluding that the Crown Prince approved an operation to capture or kill Khashoggi, both sides have signaled a desire to move forward, prioritizing strategic and commercial interests.

The diplomatic push also comes amid a fragile ceasefire in Gaza, with the Saudis reiterating that any normalization of relations with Israel would require credible progress toward a Palestinian state. People briefed on the talks said the U.S. proposal for Gaza currently falls short of Saudi requirements.

Requests for comment from the Saudi delegation on the specifics of the AI and nuclear talks were not immediately returned.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the total value of the pledged Saudi investments. The correct figure is $600 billion.