President Donald Trump designated Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally of the United States during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Washington, D.C., where the two leaders reached an agreement that included arms sales, civil nuclear cooperation, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals.
At a black-tie dinner at the White House on Tuesday night, President Trump announced that he was “taking Saudi Arabia to an even higher level of military cooperation by formally designating Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally.”
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Trump said the designation was “very important to them. I’m going to talk about it tonight for the first time because I want to keep it a little secret.”
This designation means that U.S. partners benefit from military and economic privileges, but does not come with security commitments.
President Trump said Saudi Arabia and the United States also signed a “historic strategic defense agreement.”
A White House fact sheet said the defense deal would “strengthen deterrence across the Middle East,” make it easier for U.S. defense companies to operate in Saudi Arabia and secure “new burden-sharing funding from Saudi Arabia to defray U.S. costs.”
The White House also announced that President Trump has approved future deliveries of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, while Saudi Arabia has agreed to purchase 300 American tanks.
“I am pleased to announce that we are taking our military cooperation to the next level by officially designating Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally.” – President Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸🇸🇦 pic.twitter.com/PXXGGCBPGU
— White House (@WhiteHouse) November 19, 2025
Saudi Arabia’s F-35 contract raises questions about Israel’s ‘qualitative military superiority’
Saudi Arabia’s purchase of stealth fighter jets marks the first sale of advanced fighter aircraft to Riyadh by the United States. The kingdom has reportedly requested the purchase of 48 aircraft.
The move is seen as a significant policy shift by the U.S. government that could change the balance of military power in the Middle East, where U.S. law states that Israel must maintain a “qualitative military advantage.”
Israel is currently the only country in the Middle East to possess the F-35.
Asked by Al Jazeera’s Kimberly Halkett about the impact of the jet fighter deal on Israel’s “qualitative military advantage,” Trump said he was aware that Israel wanted Riyadh to receive “downgraded” fighter jets.
“I don’t think that would please you very much,” Trump told the crown prince, who was sitting next to him in the White House.
President Trump said of the F-35 deal, “They’ve been great allies. Israel’s been a great ally. … As far as I’m concerned, I think both countries are at a level where they should be at the forefront.”
Al Jazeera’s Alan Fisher, reporting from the White House, said part of the roughly $1 trillion in investments in the United States announced by Prince Mohammed includes $142 billion to procure the “world’s most advanced” F-35 fighter jet.
Fischer also said the Israeli government and lobbyists were trying to block the sale of F-35s to Saudi Arabia.
The announced agreement “far exceeds” Saudi Arabia’s investment in the United States, he added.
“It’s important that we help each other with our economies, businesses and defenses,” Fisher said. “Although politics is not near the top of the agenda, both countries believe these deals could spark a political reset in the Middle East.”
A ‘clear path’ for a Palestinian state
The two countries also signed a joint declaration on the completion of negotiations on civil nuclear cooperation, which the White House said creates the legal basis for a long-term nuclear energy partnership with Riyadh.
Israeli officials have indicated that they would not oppose Saudi Arabia’s introduction of the F-35 as long as Saudi Arabia normalizes relations with Israel under the framework of the Abraham Accords.
But Saudi Arabia has said it will join the Abraham Accords only after there is a credible and guaranteed path to a Palestinian state, a position Prince Mohammed reiterated in his meeting with President Trump.
“We want to be part of the Abraham Accords, but we also want to make sure we have a clear path to a two-state solution,” he said.
“We are going to work on it so that we can be prepared for that situation as soon as possible,” he added.
