Source: Reuters
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Jake Sullivan, the White House National Security Adviser, on Sunday to review a draft of the long-anticipated Saudi Arabia–US security deal, the Saudi state news agency reported.
The talks confirmed that "the semi-final version of the draft strategic association between the two countries are significantly finalized," according to an official statement issued following the meeting.
What the Saudi Arabia–US Security Deal Covers
The proposed bilateral agreement is reported to include firm US security commitments to Riyadh alongside civil nuclear assistance — a provision that would allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium domestically. Nonproliferation experts have raised concerns about that element, noting that uranium enrichment capabilities could open a path toward a potential weapons program.
An Israel–Saudi normalization agreement had previously been linked to the broader package, but officials have signaled that a standalone US–Saudi security deal remains viable even if full diplomatic normalization between Riyadh and Tel Aviv is not immediately concluded.
Gaza, Humanitarian Aid, and Regional Stability
Beyond the bilateral framework, the meeting addressed the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Sullivan and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed the need to establish a credible pathway toward a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, bring the conflict with Hamas to an end, and ensure the efficient entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
Sullivan had originally been scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia and Israel the previous Friday. The White House said his trip would focus on bilateral concerns as well as the recent escalation of violence in Gaza and broader efforts to achieve lasting peace and security across the Middle East.
Context: Sullivan's Regional Tour
Sullivan's stop in Saudi Arabia came ahead of a planned visit to Israel, positioning the trip as a key diplomatic push to advance both the US–Saudi agreement and regional de-escalation efforts simultaneously. The meeting underscored how closely the two tracks — a bilateral security architecture and a Gaza resolution — remain intertwined in Washington's regional strategy.
