Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is set to visit the White House next month for a high-profile meeting with former US President Donald Trump. This marks their second encounter since 2018, with reports suggesting the Crown Prince aims to secure a defense pact similar to the executive order Trump signed with Qatar following Israel’s recent attack on Doha. Qatar, home to the largest US military base in the Middle East, has had a complex relationship with Saudi Arabia, including a Saudi-led blockade from 2017 to 2021, which underscored regional ideological divides. Saudi Arabia itself hosts three US air force bases, primarily near the Red Sea, and seeks enhanced military and intelligence cooperation amid ongoing regional instability. The Financial Times highlights the significance of this meeting, noting Saudi Arabia’s confidence in Trump as a willing partner. Trump’s administration has consistently supported Saudi Arabia, avoiding criticism of its human rights record and fostering deep financial ties through his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, whose investment firm recently collaborated with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. This visit contrasts sharply with the Biden administration’s strained relations with the Crown Prince, who was once viewed as a pariah but later hosted Biden in Riyadh to discuss global oil supply. Despite efforts to include Saudi Arabia in the Abraham Accords, normalization talks with Israel stalled after the October 2023 Hamas-led attacks and subsequent Gaza conflict. While a fragile ceasefire is in place, Israel’s controversial actions in Gaza and its regional bombings make immediate progress on the Accords unlikely. The Crown Prince’s 2018 visit was marked by widespread acclaim and significant investments in US startups and corporations, positioning him as a modernizing force for Saudi Arabia. However, his reputation was tarnished by the widely condemned killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, an incident many believe was ordered by the Crown Prince.