Trump names Saudi Arabia as major non-NATO ally in new defense deal

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the United States would designate Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally, unveiling a defense and economic partnership with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at a White House dinner marking 80 years of U.S.-Saudi relations.

Trump welcomed guests to the official dinner and thanked Bin Salman for his visit and investment in the United States. The crown prince delivered brief remarks, thanking Trump and expressing gratitude while saying he looked forward to the continued partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia.

Before announcing the new designation, Trump reflected on the nations’ long-standing relationship, recalling a 1945 meeting between President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and King Abdul Aziz.

“It is a special privilege to welcome His Royal Highness to Washington this year, as we mark the 80th anniversary of the first meeting between (an) American president and a Saudi king,” Trump said. “The two became immediate, warm friends…and right now you have the best friend you’ve ever had.”

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Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump during a dinner in the East Room of the White House, November 18, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

He added that since the United States and Saudi Arabia have been “enduring partners,” they are “making this partnership closer and stronger than ever” Tuesday evening.

Trump said the partnership had reached a new level after a day of meetings and signings with Bin Salman. He praised Saudi Arabia’s modernization, calling it “an economic engine and a modern-day miracle,” and said new deals in energy, minerals and artificial intelligence were “unprecedented.”

He added that Saudi Arabia had agreed to increase its investments in the United States from $600 billion to $1 trillion, a move he said would create jobs in the United States and further strengthen the growing alliance.

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President Donald Trump meets with Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, November 18, 2025. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

“That’s why tonight I’m pleased to announce that we’re taking our military cooperation to even higher levels by officially designating Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally, which is very important to them,” Trump said.

He added that the two countries had just signed “a historic strategic defense agreement,” calling it evidence of “a stronger and more effective alliance” that would serve “the highest interest of peace.”

The announcement follows Trump’s announcement that Saudi Arabia would invest $1 trillion in the United States, doubling its previous commitment.

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President Donald Trump meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, November 18, 2025. (Nathan Howard/Politics/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“He said, ‘I’m going to increase that to $1 trillion,'” Trump told the audience. “So he invests $1 trillion in the United States… and now you have the hottest country in the world.”

Trump also highlighted what he called the largest arms purchase in history — $142 billion in U.S. military equipment and services — and said the move “will mark and make our two nations more secure and solidify the kingdom’s role as a key force for stability and security in the Middle East.”

The president said the new defense pact would make both countries more secure and referenced a recent U.S. military operation using B-2 bombers against what he described as an Iranian nuclear threat.

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President Donald Trump poses with the agreement signed at a summit of world leaders on ending the war in Gaza, part of a U.S.-brokered prisoner and hostage exchange and a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, October 13, 2025. (Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters)

“Saudi Arabia has never been safer than it is now,” he said. “You always had a little cloud over your head. … That cloud is no longer there.”

After the announcement, Trump linked the deal to his broader Middle East peace agenda, citing the end of the war in Gaza, the return of hostages and a UN resolution endorsing his “Peace Council” initiative.

“This is a board like no other,” he said. “It will bring together the heads of major countries…and I was honored to have been chosen to chair.”

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Bin Salman thanked Trump for his “warm and wonderful welcome,” calling the day “special” and highlighting the growing economic relations between the two countries.

The crown prince also said he believes this is a huge opportunity and pledged to remain focused on implementing and increasing opportunities between the two countries.

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Trump concluded by saying the alliance marked the strongest moment in U.S.-Saudi relations since Roosevelt’s meeting with King Abdul Aziz.

“One day, maybe we will talk about us as two wonderful men,” he said. “Forget what’s great – wonderful is good – but two wonderful men who did a wonderful job for their country.”