The designation, announced at a gala dinner, grants Riyadh privileged access to U.S. military technology and solidifies a “strategic partnership” that includes new nuclear and investment deals.
WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump formally designated Saudi Arabia as a “major non-NATO ally” on Tuesday, a move that elevates the kingdom’s military and economic ties with the United States to their highest level in decades.
The announcement came during a black-tie dinner at the White House honoring Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is visiting Washington to cement a series of wide-ranging agreements.
“Tonight, I’m pleased to announce that we’re taking our military cooperation to even greater heights by formally designating Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally, which is something that is very important to them,” Trump told the gathered guests. “And I’m just telling you now for the first time, because they wanted to keep a little secret for tonight.”
The designation places Saudi Arabia in a select group of approximately 20 nations—including Israel, Japan, South Korea, and Brazil—that enjoy privileged access to U.S. military equipment and technology. While the status does not entail the mutual defense guarantees of NATO membership, it allows Riyadh to receive priority delivery of surplus defense articles, participate in cooperative counter-terrorism research, and allows Saudi contractors to bid on agreements to repair and maintain U.S. military equipment.
The move was the centerpiece of a visit marked by extraordinary pomp and the signing of a historic strategic defense agreement. Alongside the military designation, the two leaders approved a “joint declaration” on civilian nuclear energy, establishing a legal framework for cooperation that could be worth billions of dollars in the coming decades.
Trump also highlighted the economic dimension of the partnership. During an earlier meeting in the Oval Office, the Crown Prince pledged to increase Saudi investments in the United States from $600 billion to nearly $1 trillion. “We can announce that we are going to increase that $600 billion to almost $1 trillion for investment,” bin Salman said, a figure Trump asked him to confirm before replying, “Definitely.”
The visit represents a complete diplomatic rehabilitation for the Crown Prince in Washington, seven years after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi strained relations. Trump, who defended the prince against questions regarding the killing earlier in the day, focused entirely on the strategic benefits of the alliance.
The gala dinner was attended by high-profile guests, including soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, whose presence Trump noted by mentioning that his youngest son, Barron, is a “big fan.”
The new status paves the way for future arms deals, including the potential sale of F-35 fighter jets, a transaction that would make Saudi Arabia the second nation in the Middle East, after Israel, to operate the advanced stealth aircraft.
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