Saudi Arabia has abandoned efforts to secure a comprehensive mutual defense treaty with the United States and is now pursuing a more limited military cooperation agreement.
Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia signaled willingness to normalize relations with Israel if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu committed to advancing a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, the Gaza conflict and widespread public anger across the Middle East have led Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to reiterate that recognition of Israel remains conditional on concrete steps toward Palestinian statehood.
The proposed scaled-down military cooperation agreement between Saudi Arabia and the United States would focus on strengthening joint military training and regional defense capabilities, particularly to counter threats from Iran. The agreement also aims to enhance Saudi Arabia’s investment in advanced defense technologies, including drone defense systems, while increasing U.S. military support in areas such as logistics, training, and cybersecurity. A potential deployment of a U.S. Patriot missile defense system is also being considered to bolster Saudi air defenses.
Unlike the originally proposed treaty, which would have required U.S. Senate approval and provided mutual defense guarantees, the new framework would not obligate U.S. forces to defend Saudi Arabia in the event of an attack. The scaled-back pact avoids the complexities of congressional approval and focuses on broader collaboration without creating binding defense commitments.
Disagreements remain over several issues, including Saudi Arabia’s reluctance to sign a U.S. “123 Agreement” barring uranium enrichment for civilian nuclear programs, and disagreements on human rights clauses. These challenges are compounded by the shifting U.S. political landscape, with former President Donald Trump expected to return to office in 2025. Trump has historically aligned closely with Saudi leadership but does not support Palestinian sovereignty as part of his vision for Middle East peace, further complicating the possibility of Riyadh normalizing relations with Israel.
Despite these setbacks, diplomatic efforts continue. Both U.S. and Saudi officials aim to finalize the military cooperation agreement before President Joe Biden leaves office, although obstacles remain. Saudi officials have reiterated their commitment to Palestinian statehood as a prerequisite for long-term peace in the region, signaling that broader normalization efforts with Israel could be revisited in the future under different circumstances.
