Payam Javan: President Donald Trump is preparing to host Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Washington on November 18, marking what the former president describes as a pivotal moment for U.S.–Saudi relations. The visit, only the crown prince’s second trip to the capital in seven years, is widely seen as a powerful signal of deepening cooperation between the two longtime partners. With global energy markets shifting and regional tensions rising, Trump has framed the meeting as a strategic step toward restoring American leadership on the world stage.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on November 14, Trump emphasized that this encounter goes far beyond standard diplomatic protocol. He portrayed the upcoming talks as a reaffirmation of the United States’ historic alliance with Saudi Arabia—an alliance he has long argued was undermined under previous administrations. “This is more than a meeting,” Trump said, underscoring the significance he places on America’s relationships with key Middle Eastern leaders.
Trump made clear that the White House reception is intended to “honor Saudi Arabia,” praising the kingdom’s contributions to regional stability and its willingness to engage on major diplomatic initiatives. His warm tone toward the crown prince reflects his broader foreign-policy philosophy: strengthening strong partners, confronting adversaries with clarity, and ensuring the United States maintains unmatched influence across the region.
A major focus of the discussions will be the Abraham Accords, the landmark series of agreements signed in late 2020 that normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations. Trump has repeatedly called the accords one of his administration’s greatest diplomatic accomplishments, and he signaled that he intends to keep them at the center of U.S. strategy in the Middle East. With Saudi-Israeli normalization still viewed as the crown jewel of regional diplomacy, Trump’s meeting with the Saudi leader could mark the next major step toward reshaping the Middle East’s political landscape.
