Last week’s visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Washington, DC marked a pivotal moment in the 80-year relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia. History could look back on this moment as a major turning point for both countries, depending on how key strategic issues are addressed in the months to come.
The main takeaway from this visit was the continuation of efforts to both broaden long-standing foundations of bilateral ties beyond energy and security to new arenas of cooperation in high tech, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, and new areas of economic investment, including a stated commitment by Saudi Arabia to invest nearly $1tn in the United States. The visit also offered more hopeful signs that the two countries will deepen defence and security cooperation and open new avenues of coordination on issues such as nuclear energy.
But the positive vibes—private-sector business deals and photo opportunities during this visit—won’t produce forward momentum on their own; continued progress will require dogged, steady diplomacy that seeks to clarify key points still unresolved in defining the contours of the bilateral partnership for years to come.
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