The United States has signed what the White House calls “the largest defense sales agreement in history” with Saudi Arabia, as President Donald Trump continues his four-day diplomatic tour of the Gulf region.
The deal, worth nearly $142 billion, will supply Saudi Arabia with advanced military equipment and services from more than a dozen American defense companies. It was co-signed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and is expected to go beyond just weapons sales, also covering investments in AI firms and energy projects.
During earlier talks, Trump described the crown prince as a personal friend, saying, “I really believe we like each other a lot.”
As part of the broader US-Saudi economic engagement, Trump also secured a $600 billion investment pledge from Saudi Arabia across sectors including defense, energy, and technology. The White House views this commitment as a key outcome of Trump’s Gulf tour, aimed at reinforcing strategic and economic partnerships across the region.
The multi-billion-dollar arms deal itself includes a wide range of military and technological provisions, with the White House listing advancements in air force and space capabilities, air and missile defense, maritime and coastal security, border protection, land force modernization, and information and communication systems upgrades.
In a lighter note amid the high-stakes diplomacy, local reports say Saudi Arabia arranged a fully operational mobile McDonald’s unit near the Royal Court to accommodate President Trump’s visit—a quirky gesture underscoring the elaborate hospitality extended to the American leader.
