The US has officially named Saudi Arabia its 20th major non-NATO ally, deepening military and economic cooperation between the two countries.
President Donald Trump announced the designation at a White House dinner honoring the visit of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Under the new status, Saudi Arabia will gain access to American defense technologies, priority delivery of military equipment, and the ability to host US war reserves.
The kingdom also becomes eligible to bid on Pentagon contracts for maintenance and repair of US systems abroad.
The announcement comes as the US confirmed plans to sell Saudi Arabia F-35 fighter jets and nearly 300 advanced tanks.
Trump emphasized that the milestone with Riyadh reflects a broader impact on regional security and economic cooperation, calling it a “win for the America First agenda” while underscoring Saudi Arabia’s role in supporting peace efforts in the war between Israel and Gaza.
About the Ties
The major non-NATO ally status gives Saudi Arabia close strategic ties with the US without the mutual defense guarantees that NATO members receive.
It is often used to deepen military cooperation, ease arms transfers, and expand eligibility for US capabilities. Congress first created the status in the 1980s, and the government has since used it to solidify security relationships with key partners outside the alliance.
Through the latest designation, Riyadh joins 19 other countries, including Israel, Japan, and Qatar, that already maintain this level of strategic partnership with Washington.
Partnerships Beyond Arms
Alongside defense, the US and Saudi Arabia signed agreements on civil nuclear energy, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals, areas seen as key to the kingdom’s economic transformation under its Vision 2030 plan.
To back this cooperation, Crown Prince Mohammed pledged to increase Saudi investments in the US to $1 trillion from an earlier $600 billion, according to Politico.
