President Donald Trump signed a strategic defense agreement formally designating Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s White House visit on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia joins 19 other countries in this category, including Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, and Qatar. The designation strengthens defense cooperation without providing a formal security guarantee.

Saudi Arabia has long been a key U.S. ally in the Middle East, though relations have sometimes been strained over human rights, oil policy, and Israel, among other issues. 

“A stronger and more capable alliance will advance the interests of both countries, and it will serve the highest interest of peace,” Trump said at a black-tie dinner at the White House with Salman.

The visit also saw Trump approve a major defense sale to Saudi Arabia, including an unspecified number of F-35 fighter jets and nearly 300 Abrams tanks, according to a White House statement.

The White House announced that Saudi Arabia will increase its U.S. investments to $1 trillion, up from $600 billion pledged in May. “This massive $1 trillion investment will drive business in the United States, maintain American national security, create jobs and support American needs,” it wrote on X.

This massive $1 TRILLION investment will drive business in the United States, maintain American national security, create jobs and support American needs.

The Dealmaker-in-Chief is at it again. pic.twitter.com/omLOlkLzE7

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 19, 2025

The visit also resulted in the two leaders signing a Joint Declaration on the Completion of Negotiations on Civil Nuclear Energy Cooperation, establishing the legal foundation for a decades-long, multi-billion-dollar nuclear energy partnership with the Kingdom. They also signed the Critical Minerals Framework, strengthening collaboration and aligning national strategies to diversify critical mineral supply chains.

Additionally, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia signed a landmark AI Memorandum of Understanding, giving the Kingdom access to world-leading American systems.