On November 18, 2025, President Donald Trump hosted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House for a lavish black-tie dinner celebrating 80 years of U.S.-Saudi relations, where he surprised guests by announcing the formal designation of Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally (MNNA). “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,” Trump declared, emphasizing that this elevation would strengthen an already enduring partnership. The move, revealed after the two leaders signed a historic Strategic Defense Agreement earlier in the day, positions Saudi Arabia alongside 19 other nations with this status, including regional partners like Israel, Qatar, and Bahrain, facilitating deeper defense collaboration without the mutual defense obligations of a full NATO treaty.

The MNNA designation grants Saudi Arabia significant privileges, including expedited access to advanced U.S. weaponry, eligibility to bid on Pentagon contracts, the ability to host U.S. weapons stockpiles, and priority for certain military exports such as depleted uranium ammunition. This announcement coincided with broader deals, including approvals for Saudi purchases of F-35 stealth fighter jets—making the kingdom the first Arab nation beyond Israel to acquire them—and nearly 300 American tanks, alongside commitments for civil nuclear cooperation and joint ventures in artificial intelligence and critical minerals. Trump described the pact as advancing “the highest interest of peace,” while noting it would create American jobs and secure burden-sharing funds from Riyadh to offset U.S. military costs in the region.

The decision underscores Trump’s “America First” approach to realigning Middle East alliances, bolstered by the crown prince’s pledge to boost Saudi investments in the U.S. to nearly $1 trillion. While hailed as a win for deterring threats like Iran and enhancing regional stability, the elevation has drawn scrutiny over Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and past tensions, including the 2018 Khashoggi murder, which Trump downplayed during the visit. Nonetheless, it marks a swift warming of ties strained under the prior administration, potentially paving the way for further economic integration and Saudi involvement in broader peace initiatives.