U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was unaware of the murder of U.S. resident and Saudi national Jamal Khashoggi. Trump warmly welcomed Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, commonly known as MBS, for discussions aimed at advancing the sale of F-35 fighter jets and various business agreements with the kingdom.
The last time MBS visited Washington was shortly before Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist critical of the Saudi royal family, was killed in Turkey in 2018. Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 that year and never emerged alive. Turkish authorities characterized it as a deliberate assault, reporting that his attackers strangled him, dismembered his body, and disposed of it.
U.S. intelligence findings indicated that MBS sanctioned the abduction or the horrendous murder of Khashoggi. While the crown prince denied giving the order, he accepted accountability as the de facto ruler of the kingdom.
During the visit, Trump praised bin Salman as a “friend” and dismissed a query from an ABC News reporter regarding Khashoggi’s murder, asserting that the crown prince was unaware of the incident. Bin Salman expressed sorrow at the loss of life and pledged that the kingdom had investigated the matter and would strive to prevent such occurrences in the future.
The warm reception given to the crown prince in Washington signals a reconciliation in relations following the strain caused by Khashoggi’s murder. DAWN, a human rights and democracy organization founded by Khashoggi, protested the visit outside the Saudi embassy in Washington, D.C., with a billboard truck displaying an image of MBS and the message: “Mr. Bone Saw is in town and wants you to forget about his crimes.”
MBS has positioned himself as a peacemaker, fostering ties with Iran, advocating for a Gaza truce, and reintegrating Syria into the Arab community. Domestically, he has spearheaded significant economic reforms and social liberalization in the kingdom.
Although invited by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to the G7 summit in Alberta, MBS did not attend. The Canadian government under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned Khashoggi’s killing and imposed sanctions on 17 Saudis linked to the incident.
The meeting between Trump and MBS emphasized the strategic relationship between the largest global economy and the leading oil exporter. Bin Salman pledged to boost Saudi investment in the U.S. to $1 trillion from a previous commitment of $600 billion made during Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia in May.
Discussions between the two leaders aimed to enhance security cooperation, civil nuclear partnerships, and lucrative business contracts. Trump hinted at a defense pact between the two countries and Saudi Arabia’s intention to procure advanced F-35 fighter jets, marking a significant policy shift as Israel had been the sole Middle Eastern nation with access to the aircraft.
While Trump indicated optimism about Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel, bin Salman stressed that any alignment with the Abraham Accords was contingent on Israel facilitating Palestinian statehood. Trump brokered the Abraham Accords between Israel and several Arab nations during his first term, with hopes of expanding the peace agreements further.
Bin Salman’s ascension to power commenced in 2015 when his father, King Salman, appointed him to key roles, including defense, during the Saudi-led campaign against Houthi rebels in Yemen. He later ousted his cousin Mohammed bin Nayef as heir in 2017, initiating significant changes in the country’s leadership structure.
At home, the prince has instigated social reforms, diminishing the influence of religious authorities and relaxing stringent societal norms. Saudi women now enjoy increased freedoms, including the right to drive, work, and engage openly in society, marking a departure from the kingdom’s conservative past.
Saudi Arabia has also made strides in sports and entertainment, investing in the LIV golf series, hosting major boxing events, and securing the hosting rights for the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
The evolving relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, as well as the internal transformations led by MBS, signal a shifting landscape in the kingdom’s domestic and international affairs.
[End of the rewritten article]
