Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has pledged to raise Saudi Arabia’s investment in the United States to nearly $1 trillion, marking a major moment in US–Saudi economic ties.

During a high-profile White House visit on November 18, the crown prince confirmed that the kingdom would increase its existing $600 billion US investment commitment to “almost $1 trillion.” President Trump, sitting beside him in the Oval Office, welcomed the news with enthusiasm:

“We can count on $600 billion, but that number could go up a little bit higher,” Trump said.
“You keep increasing, Mr. President,” MBS replied, smiling. “Each time, the opportunities are increasing more and more.”

Trump praised the crown prince as “a friend for a long time,” calling the relationship “top of the line,” and said Saudi investment would drive job creation across US plants, companies, and Wall Street.

What’s Included:

  • $600B already committed
  • An additional $400B in future plans, including:
    • Technology and AI chips
    • F-35 stealth jet purchases
    • Infrastructure and energy projects

Saudi Arabia also expressed strong interest in acquiring advanced US AI chips, citing “huge demand” for computing power. Bin Salman emphasized that the investments were real, not symbemphasisedolic:

“We’re not creating fake opportunities to please America or President Trump. These are real opportunities.”

Strategic Context

The investment pledge comes as Saudi Arabia seeks:

  • A formal US defense agreement
  • Approval for civilian nuclear cooperation
  • Progress on normalization with Israel, tied to a two-state solution

Trump, in turn, highlighted shared strategic goals and referenced their joint stance on Iran, saying the US had carried out a “very successful” strike on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Background & Reactions

This is Crown Prince Mohammed’s first US visit since the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Asked about the murder, Trump defended the prince, claiming he “knew nothing about it,” despite a 2021 US intelligence report concluding otherwise.

While some economists question whether the $1T figure is realistic, given low oil prices and Saudi Arabia’s heavy spending on domestic megaprojects — the pledge reflects the kingdom’s intention to shift its economy toward tech and global partnerships.

“Saudi Arabia believes in the future of America,” said MBS.