In a landmark week for U.S.–Saudi relations, Washington has secured $1 trillion in Saudi spending commitments, dramatically expanding the scope of agreements announced just six months ago. The visit of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman—paired with President Donald Trump’s high-profile welcome—signaled a strategic deepening of political, economic, and defense ties between the two countries.
The new commitment, up from the previously announced $600 billion, underscores Saudi Arabia’s broad push to accelerate technological modernization, diversify its economy, and cement key alliances as global power centers shift. The Crown Prince is expected to meet with top U.S. corporate leaders, further strengthening private-sector alignment across both nations.
Nuclear Energy Becomes a Central Pillar
One of the most consequential announcements is the signing of a bilateral nuclear cooperation pact, laying the foundation for decades of collaboration in civilian nuclear infrastructure. Although progress had long stalled due to U.S. restrictions on uranium enrichment, the deal approved this week does not allow enrichment, sticking to strict nonproliferation requirements.
For Saudi Arabia, nuclear power is a cornerstone of its long-term energy transition strategy. For the U.S., the agreement secures American firms as preferred partners—locking out geopolitical competitors seeking influence in the region.
In parallel, Saudi Aramco revealed 17 new agreements with major U.S. companies, worth more than $30 billion, expanding joint ventures across refining, chemicals, and cutting-edge energy technologies.
Critical Minerals: A Geopolitical Priority
A new U.S.–Saudi critical minerals framework marks another major strategic milestone. As the U.S. works to reduce dependency on China for rare earth elements, the Saudis are emerging as a key partner in building diversified, secure supply chains.
Complementing the pact, MP Materials announced plans—backed by the U.S. Department of Defense and Saudi mining giant Maaden—to construct a rare earths refinery in the kingdom. This positions Saudi Arabia as a future hub for minerals essential to EVs, clean energy, and advanced defense technologies.
AI and Supercomputing Collaboration Expands
Artificial intelligence took center stage as the two nations signed a broad AI memorandum of understanding. The agreement grants Saudi Arabia access to U.S. AI capabilities at a scale previously unmatched.
Technology leader Nvidia confirmed that it will collaborate with Saudi Arabia to develop new supercomputing infrastructure—a critical building block for advanced AI research, autonomous systems, and next-generation digital industries.
Defense: A Major Realignment
A new strategic defense agreement reaffirms the 80-year U.S.–Saudi alliance while easing operational barriers for American defense firms. Although it falls short of a NATO-style treaty, the pact introduces new burden-sharing commitments and modernizes joint security frameworks.
Perhaps most notably, the U.S. approved future deliveries of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia—marking the first time the aircraft will be sold to a Middle Eastern nation other than Israel. Riyadh will also purchase 300 American tanks as part of a broader defense modernization push.
Trade, Finance, and Capital Markets
Additional accords strengthen cooperation on trade, capital markets technology, financial regulations, and cross-border investment standards. These agreements aim to expand U.S. exports while opening new pathways for American companies operating in global markets.
Collectively, the $1 trillion package represents one of the most sweeping and strategically significant investment commitments ever exchanged between the two countries—reshaping global alliances in energy, technology, defense, and economic policy for years to come.
