US President Donald Trump said that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will be honoured during his visit to the US on Tuesday.
Business, defence, energy and other major agreements are expected to be signed during Prince Mohammed's first trip to the US since 2018.
“It will be more than a meeting – we’re honouring Saudi Arabia, the Crown Prince,” Mr Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.
He also said he is considering approving a deal to supply Saudi Arabia with F-35 stealth fighter jets. “They want to buy a lot of jets,” he explained. “I’m looking at that. They’ve asked me to look at it. They want to buy a lot of ‘35’ – and actually more than that, fighter jets.”
Prince Mohammed’s visit is expected to focus on negotiating a formal security pact. The two sides are also expected to unveil expanded partnerships in artificial intelligence, energy and infrastructure.
Mr Trump added that talks with Israel will also feature in the discussions. Saudi Arabia has repeatedly said it will not normalise relations with Israel before Palestinian statehood is secured.
The Crown Prince’s day at the White House next Tuesday will begin with an arrival ceremony, a senior White House official told AP. Mr Trump will then host him in the Oval Office for bilateral talks, followed by a signing ceremony and lunch in the Cabinet Room, where the two countries will formalise several economic and defence deals. That evening, the White House will hold a dinner, hosted by first lady Melania Trump.
On Wednesday, dozens of CEOs are expected to attend a meeting of the US-Saudi Business Council at the Kennedy Centre.
The Crown Prince is expected to capitalise on his rapport with Mr Trump, built during the president’s lavish visit to Riyadh in May, when both sides announced deals initially valued at hundreds of billions of dollars.
