US-PRESIDENT-TRUMP-HOSTS-THE-CROWN-PRINCE-AND-PRIME-MINISTER-OF WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 18: U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia pause for photographs along the West Wing Colonnade at the White House on November 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. The two leaders held meetings aimed at strengthening economic and defense ties, including the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/AFP CHIP SOMODEVILLA / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

WORLD

Trump says designating Saudi Arabia major non-NATO ally

Agence France-Presse

Published:19th Nov, 2025 at 7:49 PM

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he was designating Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally, as he hosted Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for a gala dinner at the White House.

"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 important to them," Trump said.

"And I'm just telling you now for the first time, because they wanted to keep a little secret for tonight," Trump said of the designation, which only 19 other countries have previously received.