Washington: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) will visit the White House on November 18 for an official working meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, a White House official confirmed on Monday.
The high-profile visit is expected to focus on regional security, economic cooperation, and the potential normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel under the Abraham Accords framework.
Push for Saudi Participation in the Abraham Accords
The upcoming meeting comes as President Trump continues efforts to expand the Abraham Accords, the series of U.S.-brokered agreements initiated in 2020, which saw the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco establish formal diplomatic ties with Israel.
While several Arab nations have embraced normalization, Saudi Arabia has remained cautious, insisting that progress toward Palestinian statehood must precede any formal recognition of Israel.
Saudi Arabia’s Stance on Normalization
Under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s leadership, Riyadh has cautiously opened limited engagement with Israel, including backchannel discussions and overflight permissions, but has stopped short of signing a full normalization pact.
Officials and analysts believe that MBS’s Washington visit could serve as a key diplomatic moment to advance dialogue on normalization, regional defense cooperation, and economic partnerships—particularly amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Context and Expectations
The visit marks a significant step in U.S.-Saudi relations, which have experienced periodic friction over human rights concerns, oil production policies, and regional conflicts. However, both leaders have maintained open communication over shared strategic goals, including containing Iran’s influence and enhancing Gulf security.
Sources in Washington say discussions are also likely to touch upon energy market stability, defense contracts, and counterterrorism efforts, along with investment opportunities under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 reform agenda.