Trump designates Saudi Arabia as major non-NATO ally during crown prince White House visit

President Donald Trump on Tuesday publicized that the U S will designate Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally unveiling a defense and economic partnership with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a White House dinner marking years of U S Saudi relations Trump welcomed guests at the official dinner and thanked bin Salman for his visit and resources in the U S The crown prince gave brief remarks thanking Trump and expressing his gratitude while saying he was looking forward to a continued partnership between the U S and Saudi Arabia Before announcing the new designation Trump reflected on the nations long relationship recalling the meeting between President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and King Abdul Aziz It s a special privilege to welcome His Royal Highness to Washington this year as we mark the th anniversary of the first meeting between a U S President and a Saudi king Trump disclosed The two became immediate and warm friends and right now you have the best friend you ve ever had SAUDI ARABIA IS ALREADY AMERICA S TOP ARMS BUYER AND NOW TRUMP WANTS TO ADD F- SHe added that ever since the U S and Saudi Arabia have been enduring partners on Tuesday night they were making that partnership closer and stronger than ever before Trump disclosed the partnership had reached a new level after a day of meetings and signings with bin Salman He praised Saudi Arabia s modernization calling it an economic engine and a modern-day miracle and revealed new agreements in resource minerals and artificial intelligence were unprecedented He added that Saudi Arabia had agreed to boost its expenditure in the U S from billion to trillion a move he noted would create American jobs and further strengthen the growing alliance TRUMP SET TO HOST SAUDI ARABIA'S POWERFUL CROWN PRINCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE THIS WEEK So that s why tonight I m pleased to announce that we re taking our military cooperation to even greater heights by formally designating Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally which is something that is very pivotal to them Trump disclosed He added that both countries had just signed a historic strategic defense agreement calling it proof of a stronger and more capable alliance that would serve the highest interest of peace The announcement followed Trump saying Saudi Arabia would invest trillion in the U S doubling an earlier pledge SAUDI CROWN PRINCE BIN SALMAN HIKES COMMITTED US COMMITMENT TO NEARLY T He announced I am going to up that to trillion Trump reported the audience So he s investing trillion into the United States and now you have the hottest country anywhere in the world Trump also pointed to what he called the largest arms purchase in history billion in American military equipment and services and explained the move will mark and make both of our nations safer and cement the kingdom s role as a key force for stability and prevention in the Middle East The president noted the new defense pact would make both nations safer and referenced a fresh U S military operation using B- bombers against what he described as an Iranian nuclear threat SAUDI ARABIA'S -YEAR-OLD DISRUPTOR HOW MBS REWIRED THE KINGDOM IN SHORT YEARS Saudi Arabia has never been as safe as it is right now he mentioned You reliably had a little cloud over your head that cloud is not there anymore After the announcement Trump tied the agreement to his broader Middle East peace agenda citing the end of the war in Gaza the return of hostages and a U N resolution endorsing his Board of Peace initiative This is a board like no other he disclosed It will have the heads of major countries and I was honored to be chosen the chair TRUMP SAUDI CROWN PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN TO MEET AT WHITE HOUSE AMID DIPLOMATIC SHIFTS IN REGIONBin Salman thanked Trump for the warm and great welcome calling the day special and emphasizing the growing economic relationship between the two countries The crown prince also revealed he held this is a huge opportunity and vowed to remain focused on implementing and increasing opportunities between both countries Trump closed by saying the alliance marked the strongest moment in U S Saudi relations since Roosevelt s meeting with King Abdul Aziz Someday maybe we ll talk about us as being two wonderful men he revealed Forget about great wonderful is okay but two wonderful men that did tremendous work for their countries