Saudi Crown Prince to meet Trump in Washington next month

AFP | Riyadh

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince will meet US President Donald Trump during a three-day visit to Washington next month, a source close to the government told AFP yesterday.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will arrive on November 17 and discuss political, economic and security files with Trump the following day, the source said on condition of anonymity.

The crown prince’s trip was revealed days into a fragile Gaza ceasefire brokered by Trump that was warmly welcomed by Saudi Arabia.

Some media reports suggest Saudi Arabia is hoping for a US security agreement after Trump’s executive order this month pledging to defend its neighbour Qatar from attacks.

Before the Gaza war broke out in October 2023, Saudi Arabia held tentative talks with the US on normalising ties with Israel in return for security and nuclear energy pledges.

The visit by the crown prince follows Trump’s trip to Saudi Arabia in May during the first foreign tour of his second term.

Saudi Arabia and the US have enjoyed a close relationship for decades based on privileged access to Saudi oil reserves in exchange for military protection.

Saudi Arabia has spearheaded moves championing statehood for the Palestinians, including organising a UN conference along with France in July.

Last month, the two countries’ “New York Declaration” supporting a Hamas-free Palestinian state was backed in a vote by the United Nations General Assembly.