SECURITY GUARANTEES TAKE PRIORITY
Trump has said he wants Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords, calling Riyadh’s recognition of Israel a major diplomatic prize. But early steps toward normalisation were halted after Hamas’s October 2023 attack and the subsequent Gaza war.
Saudi officials say the kingdom’s position remains unchanged. Riyadh insists that establishing a Palestinian state must come first.
“A Palestinian state is a prerequisite for regional integration,” said Manal Radwan, who heads the negotiating team at the Saudi foreign affairs ministry, at the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain. “We have said it many times, but we keep being asked this question.”
Instead, the crown prince is expected to focus on securing firm security guarantees from Washington. Qatar received an executive order signed by Trump pledging US protection after Israel’s September strike, and analysts say other Gulf states want similar commitments.
Riyadh also wants access to advanced air and missile defence systems and is seeking approval to buy F-35 fighter jets. Israel is currently the only Middle Eastern operator of the aircraft. The kingdom is also pushing for access to high-end chips needed for its artificial intelligence ambitions.
Saudi Arabia has pursued regional de-escalation as it rolls out major tourism, entertainment and infrastructure projects under its Vision 2030 diversification plan. That includes renewed engagement with Iran.
Security expert Andreas Krieg of King’s College London said the prince will aim to secure a durable US-Saudi defence framework that strengthens deterrence against Iran and supports his economic goals.
“In return, Washington will press for tighter guardrails on sensitive China links and tangible movement toward an eventual Israel track and a plausible political horizon for Palestinians,” he said.
