President Trump announced on Tuesday that the United States will designate Saudi Arabia as a “major non-NATO ally,” marking a significant shift in military relations between Washington and Riyadh. The decision was made during a White House dinner honoring Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, where Trump emphasized the importance of deepening U.S.-Saudi cooperation.

“Tonight, I’m pleased to announce that we are taking our military cooperation to even greater heights by formally designating Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally,” Trump said, highlighting the strategic partnership between the two nations. The defense agreement is described as a critical step in enhancing America’s role as a regional security enabler, allowing partners to deter and defeat threats.

The statement from the White House underscored that the designation benefits the “America First agenda” by facilitating U.S. defense firms’ operations in Saudi Arabia. It also noted that the Kingdom views the United States as its primary strategic partner, with Saudi Arabia contributing new burden-sharing funds to defray U.S. costs.

Trump secured an agreement for Saudi Arabia to purchase nearly 300 American military tanks, which the White House stated would “build up its own defense capabilities and safeguard hundreds of American jobs.” The president also thanked the crown prince for his role in the transformational peace deal that ended the war in Gaza.

During the crown prince’s visit, Trump and bin Salman announced Saudi Arabia would invest $1 trillion into the U.S. Additionally, administration officials revealed an upcoming agreement to export semiconductor chips to Saudi Arabia, with Trump suggesting potential nuclear civil cooperation between the two countries in the future.

The designation and related agreements signify a new chapter in U.S.-Saudi relations, emphasizing military and economic collaboration under Trump’s leadership.