Attack on Saudi Arabia will be considered an attack on the US: Trump

Saudi Arabia is set to sign a new defence deal with the US under which any attack on the country will be considered an attack on the US. The deal is being negotiated by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), and is expected to be finalised during his visit to the White House next month.

A source told the Financial Times that the deal will be “massive” and will further enhance military and intelligence cooperation between the two countries. It is similar to the deal the US signed with Qatar last month, which declared that any attack on the Gulf state would be considered a threat to the US.

A senior Trump administration official said there were talks of signing some documents during the crown prince’s visit, but the details were not yet finalised. The White House and State Department have not yet released details of the deal, but have said that US defence cooperation with Saudi Arabia is “a strong foundation of our regional strategy”.

The State Department added that Washington is committed to the security and stability of the region and will continue to work with Saudi Arabia to resolve conflicts, promote regional solidarity, and make safe havens for terrorists unacceptable.

Just before Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit, President Donald Trump announced in an executive order that the United States would take “all lawful and appropriate measures—diplomatic, economic, and, if necessary, military” if Qatar was attacked.

Saudi Arabia had previously sought a deal with the former President Joe Biden administration that would include the possibility of normalizing relations with Israel, but the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack and the Gaza war derailed that plan. MBS has made it clear that Saudi Arabia will only normalize relations with Israel once a Palestinian state is established.

A separate defense agreement is currently under discussion with the Trump administration, which could be implemented through a treaty or executive order. Firas Maksad, managing director of the Middle East and North Africa at the think tank Eurasia Group, believes that similar progress on defense and security can be expected after the executive order with Qatar.

Saudi Arabia is already one of the largest arms buyers of the United States and has previously signed $142 billion in arms deals with the White House. In addition, last month, Saudi Arabia signed a “strategic mutual defense” agreement with Pakistan, which is being taken as a clear message to the United States and Israel that the country is ready to diversify its security alliance.

Source: Financial Times