Washington (TDI): Saudi Arabia is in negotiations with the United States over a possible defense agreement that could be finalized during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s upcoming visit to Washington next month, according to a Financial Times report citing individuals familiar with the talks.
A senior official from the Trump administration told the paper that discussions are underway about formalizing a deal when the crown prince visits the White House, though the specifics remain under review.
Sources described the proposed accord as being similar to the recent US–Qatar agreement, which commits Washington to view any armed attack on Qatar as a threat to the United States itself, the report added.
That deal followed an Israeli airstrike last month that reportedly targeted Hamas leaders in Doha.
The US State Department said that defense cooperation with Saudi Arabia remains “a strong bedrock of our regional strategy.”
Read More: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia Sign Mutual Defense Pact, Following Israel’s Attack on Qatar
Just last month, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a significant mutual defense pact in Riyadh, pledging that any act of aggression against one nation would be treated as an attack on both.
The agreement was signed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Al-Yamamah Palace.
Read More: Saudi Arabia–Pakistan Defense Agreement: A Defining Moment in Bilateral Ties
The timing of the accord, coming soon after an Arab summit that emphasized collective regional security in light of Israel’s strike on Qatar, suggests a wider strategic recalibration among key players in the Middle East.
It also follows several major regional conflicts, including the India–Pakistan clash in May and the brief but intense 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June.
