Saudi Crown Prince Plans US Visit Seeking Defense Pact Amid Israel Normalization Delays

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) is planning his first visit to the United States in seven years, scheduled for mid-November, marking a significant diplomatic engagement since the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The visit will focus on negotiating a mutual defense pact similar to the U.S.-Qatar agreement, as well as advancing talks on acquiring F-35 stealth fighter jets and civilian nuclear technology, though a formal congressional treaty is not expected. Despite President Trump's optimism about Saudi normalization with Israel before the end of the year, analysts and Saudi officials view such a development as unlikely in the near term, with normalization likely to take years due to ongoing regional complexities and demands for Palestinian statehood. The visit follows a fragile Gaza ceasefire brokered by the Trump administration and aims to strengthen longstanding U.S.-Saudi strategic and security partnerships. This trip highlights Riyadh's prioritization of defense and technological cooperation over immediate diplomatic ties with Israel, reflecting cautious recalibration of Middle East alliances. Meanwhile, Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa reinforced the historic and strategic nature of Bahrain-U.S. relations during the concurrent IISS Manama Dialogue 2025, emphasizing continued collaboration under the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA).