Trump’s Saudi Embrace: A New Era for US-Middle East Diplomacy

President Trump hosts Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for a pivotal meeting at the White House. Despite past tensions over Jamal Khashoggi's killing, Trump seeks to strengthen ties with Saudi Arabia through significant military sales and diplomatic collaborations, amidst broader Middle East peace efforts.

President Donald Trump is poised to receive Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for his first White House visit since the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents. Despite previous tensions, Trump views the prince as key to shaping the Middle East and intends to deepen this crucial alliance.

As headline deals get unveiled, including the controversial sale of F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia, Trump is also pushing for Saudi-Israel normalization. The president hopes these accords will create stability following the Israel-Hamas tensions. However, progress is impeded by unresolved Palestinian statehood discussions and Israeli resistance.

Additionally, to solidify economic partnerships, both nations will announce major investments in AI and collaborate on civil nuclear energy. These developments are part of Prince Mohammed's vision for diversifying Saudi Arabia's economy beyond oil and projecting it as a global player.

(With inputs from agencies.)