Trump signs $600 billion deal with Saudi Arabia for weapons and critical minerals

The United States and Saudi Arabia announced on Tuesday the signing of a series of agreements worth $600 billion, according to the White House. The deals span areas ranging from access to critical minerals to energy security, and were unveiled during President Donald Trump’s visit to the kingdom — the first stop on his tour of the Gulf states.

Among the signed deals is a $142 billion defense pact under which Washington will supply its ally with advanced weaponry. In a fact sheet, the White House described it as “the largest defense sales agreement in history.”

The primary objective of Trump’s tour — his first overseas trip of this second term — was to secure lucrative trade deals that he could boast about upon his return, showcasing his negotiating skills. The Gulf states were quick to accommodate his desires, presenting the announcements with the utmost grandeur.

The announcement was made during a meeting in Riyadh between President Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, following a lavish welcome ceremony at the airport and royal pavilion, complete with red carpets. “I really believe we like each other a lot,” the U.S. president said during his meeting with Bin Salman, the de facto leader of the Saudi kingdom.

Trump also took the opportunity to pressure his host to expand Saudi Arabia’s investment commitment to $1 trillion — a target he has referenced several times since taking office.

According to the White House, the defense agreement signed Tuesday will provide Saudi Arabia with “warfighting equipment and services from over a dozen U.S. defense firms.” It will include “air force advancement and space capabilities”; air and missile defense; maritime and coastal security; border security; and information and communication systems upgrades. The agreement also provides for “extensive training and support” to enhance the capabilities of the Saudi Armed Forces, the White House said in a statement.

It is not known whether the agreement includes the sale of advanced F-35 fighter jets, which Saudi Arabia has long sought. The Arab country is the largest buyer of U.S. weaponry but currently does not have access to those aircraft, which are available to Israel.

During the term of Democrat Joe Biden, which ended this past January, the United States had been working to finalize a defense cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia as part of negotiations aimed at securing Riyadh’s normalization of diplomatic relations with Israel. However, the war in Gaza derailed those plans.

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