Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman departed for the United States on Monday, the state news agency said, where the kingdom’s de-facto leader is likely to press for security guarantees and advanced weaponry.
The visit marks the de-facto leader’s first visit to Washington since the 2018 murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents prompted worldwide outrage and briefly upended ties with the kingdom’s long-time ally.
“This official working visit will include a meeting with President Donald Trump to discuss bilateral relations and ways to strengthen them in various fields, as well as to address issues of mutual interest,” read a post by the Saudi Press Agency on X.
Prince Mohammed has fostered close ties with Trump and his family over the years — a relationship that was burnished by a lavish welcome and $600 billion in investment pledges when the president visited Saudi Arabia in May.
In the lead up to the prince’s trip, Trump has boasted of efforts to convince the kingdom to join the Abraham Accords and cement ties with Israel — a long-sought policy goal of his adminstration.
Saudi Arabia, however, is unlikely to agree to normalisation at this stage, according to experts, with Prince Mohammed’s priority set for firmer US security guarantees after Israeli strikes in September on Qatar, an iron-clad US ally, unnerved the wealthy Gulf region.
The 40-year-old heir to the throne will meet Trump on Tuesday, a source close to the government had told AFP.
A US-Saudi investment forum spotlighting energy and artificial intelligence will take place in the US capital during the prince’s three-day visit, the event’s website says.
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