MBS pledges Saudi investments of $1 trillion in US

Washington-US President Donald Trump on Tuesday lauded Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for his “incredible” human rights record as the Saudi royal received a lavish welcome at the White House. The visit marked the first time in seven years that the crown prince entered the Oval Office, accompanied by a ceremonial parade of horse-mounted soldiers and a military flyover featuring F-35 jets, which Trump confirmed would soon be sold to Riyadh.

During the meeting, Prince Mohammed thrilled Trump by announcing a substantial increase in Saudi investments in the United States. “We are raising the $600 billion we pledged when President Trump visited Saudi Arabia in May to nearly $1 trillion,” the crown prince declared. When Trump asked him to confirm the figure, MBS replied, “Definitely.”

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The announcement reinforces the growing economic and strategic partnership between Washington and Riyadh, highlighting a new chapter in US-Saudi relations.

Trump pulled out all the stops for the Saudi prince, giving him treatment normally reserved for a state visit to the White House, despite the fact that he is not a head of state.

He welcomed bin Salman — who is widely known as MBS — on the South Lawn of the White House as cannon fire boomed out, before they watched the noisy flypast by US military jets.

The 79-year-old Republican then showed the prince a new gallery of presidential portraits by the Rose Garden — including one portraying his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden as an autopen.

Trump has accused an ageing Biden of using the automated device to sign presidential pardons, and questioned their legality.

Later in the day, First Lady Melania Trump will hold a gala dinner.

Portugal soccer legend Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays in Saudi Arabia, will also be at the White House for the gala day of events, a White House official told AFP.

The president has made a priority of boosting ties with the oil-rich Gulf kingdom, particularly as he seeks to turn the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza into a longer-lasting regional peace.

Trump said he had pushed the prince to normalise relations with Israel as part of the Abraham Accords that he launched in his first term.

Prince Mohammed said he was working to do so “as soon as possible” but insisted on securing a “clear path of two-state solution” for a Palestinian state first.

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Trump meanwhile reiterated his intention to sell Saudi Arabia coveted F-35 stealth fighters, despite concerns from Israel and warnings from US officials that China could steal technological knowledge about the jets.

In another area of past contention, Trump will sign a deal on a framework for civilian nuclear cooperation, a US official and a source familiar with the negotiations said.

The 40-year-old prince has fostered close ties with Trump and his family over the years, including through investment pledges to the property billionaire-turned-US president.