Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to visit White House on November 18

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is set to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on November 18 for what officials are describing as an official working visit.

The meeting is expected to focus on deepening defence cooperation and the possibility of Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords, the regional peace framework initiated under Trump’s previous administration.

Talks on defence and regional peace

According to US officials, discussions could include a long-term security agreement between the two allies. Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that the two sides might sign a defence pact during the crown prince’s visit, although the details are still being worked out.

Saudi Arabia, which has long relied on Washington for advanced weaponry and military support, is reportedly seeking stronger US security guarantees. The kingdom remains one of America’s top arms buyers, with their partnership historically built on oil supply and defence cooperation.

Earlier this year, the Financial Times reported that Washington and Riyadh were exploring the possibility of a new security framework, which could formalise commitments that have existed informally for decades.

Normalisation with Israel still in question

Another key issue likely to surface during the talks is the future of Saudi-Israeli relations. While Trump has been urging Riyadh to follow other Arab nations in normalising ties with Israel, Saudi leaders have maintained that meaningful progress on Palestinian statehood remains essential before any such step can be taken.

In a recent interview on CBS’ 60 Minutes, Trump expressed confidence that the kingdom would eventually join the Abraham Accords, which so far include the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco.

Bin Salman’s upcoming visit marks another chapter in the long and complex US-Saudi partnership, as both countries weigh regional diplomacy and strategic defence priorities against shifting political and security realities in the Middle East.