The United States has officially designated Saudi Arabia as its 20th major non-NATO ally, marking a significant step in enhancing military and economic collaboration between the two nations. This announcement was made during a White House dinner that honored Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
As a major non-NATO ally, Saudi Arabia will now have privileged access to American defense technologies, priority in military equipment delivery, and the capability to host U.S. war reserves. This status also allows the kingdom to participate in bidding for Pentagon contracts related to the maintenance and repair of U.S. military systems deployed abroad.
The designation comes in tandem with the U.S.’s confirmation of plans to sell advanced military equipment to Saudi Arabia, including F-35 fighter jets and nearly 300 modern tanks. At the announcement, President Donald Trump emphasized that this milestone demonstrates a commitment to regional security and strengthens economic ties, framing it as a victory for the “America First” agenda. He noted Saudi Arabia’s crucial role in fostering peace efforts amid ongoing conflicts, specifically referencing the situation between Israel and Gaza.
The designation as a major non-NATO ally provides Saudi Arabia with close strategic ties to the U.S. while stopping short of offering the mutual defense guarantees afforded to NATO members. This status, first introduced in the 1980s, has been employed to fortify military cooperation, facilitate arms transfers, and broaden access to U.S. capabilities among key partners outside the NATO alliance. With this latest designation, Saudi Arabia joins the ranks of 19 other countries, including Israel, Japan, and Qatar, that share this strategic partnership with the United States.
In addition to defense-related agreements, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia have recently engaged in discussions to collaborate on civil nuclear energy, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals—areas seen as vital for the kingdom’s economic transformation as part of its Vision 2030 initiative. Crown Prince Mohammed has committed to increasing Saudi investments in the U.S. to $1 trillion, a substantial increase from the previous goal of $600 billion, according to reports from Politico.
