The White House described the deal as "historic."
US President Donald Trump received a warm welcome at the start of his Gulf tour on Tuesday after receiving pledges from Saudi Arabia to invest $600 billion in the United States.
Upon exiting Air Force One, Trump raised his fist in the air as he was greeted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who later signed agreements with the US president covering energy, defense, mining, and other areas.
A White House statement said the United States had approved the sale of an arms package to Saudi Arabia worth approximately $142 billion, describing the deal as "the largest defense cooperation agreement" ever concluded by Washington.
The statement explained that the agreement includes deals with more than 12 American defense companies in areas including air and missile defense, enhancing air force capabilities, developing space, maritime security, and communications.
According to the same source, this initiative falls within the framework of the "America First" policy launched by Trump since assuming the presidency, which places the American economy, national employment, and national security at the forefront of priorities. The agreements celebrated in Riyadh were described as "historic and transformational" for both parties, establishing a new phase of long-term economic cooperation.
Among the most prominent projects announced, the Saudi company DataVolt intends to invest $20 billion in establishing advanced data centers for artificial intelligence and developing energy infrastructure within the United States. American giants such as Google, Oracle, Salesforce, AMD, and Uber are also participating, alongside DataVolt, in joint investments totaling $80 billion in advanced technology fields in both the United States and Saudi Arabia.
In the infrastructure sector, American companies such as Hill International, Jacobs, Parsons, and AECOM will participate in the implementation of mega projects in the Kingdom, including King Salman International Airport, King Salman Park, and Qiddiya City, which translates into American service exports exceeding $2 billion. The agreements also include the supply of gas turbines from GE Vernova to Saudi Arabia worth $14.2 billion, in addition to the sale of Boeing 737-8 aircraft to AviLease.
In the healthcare sector, Shamekh IV Solutions will invest approximately $5.8 billion in a project to establish a large-scale intravenous infusion solution production plant in Michigan, USA. The launch of investment funds targeting vital sectors was also announced, including an energy fund, another for defense technology and aviation, and a third in the sports field, which will provide high-quality job opportunities in the United States and enhance American industrial innovation.
In the defense sector, the United States and Saudi Arabia signed the largest arms deal in history, valued at approximately $142 billion. The agreements cover advanced combat equipment and services, including enhancing the capabilities of air and space forces, missile defense systems, maritime and coastal security, border security, and modernization of ground forces, in addition to developing communications and information systems.
The package also includes extensive training programs to build the capabilities of the Saudi armed forces, including support for military colleges and military medical services.
The White House reported that on the broader economic front, trade relations between the two countries are strengthening, with Saudi direct investment in the United States reaching approximately $9.5 billion last year, concentrated in the transportation, real estate, and automotive sectors. Trade between the two countries reached approximately $25.9 billion in 2024, with a surplus in favor of the United States of $443 million.
In the energy and minerals sectors, the US Department of Energy and its Saudi counterpart signed an agreement to expand cooperation in developing, financing, and deploying energy infrastructure. A memorandum of cooperation was also signed in the mining sector to strengthen global supply chains for strategic minerals.
In the space sector, NASA signed an agreement with the Saudi Space Agency to launch a small Saudi satellite as part of the Artemis II mission, to measure atmospheric phenomena in high space. The air transport agreement between the two countries was also updated, allowing American and Saudi airlines to transport cargo between Saudi Arabia and third countries without the need to stop in the home country, a move that will support global shipping hubs.
Side agreements also included cultural and scientific cooperation, through joint projects between the Smithsonian Institution and the Royal Commission for AlUla, including an exhibition on the Dadan antiquities in Washington, D.C., and an initiative to protect the endangered Arabian leopard at the U.S. National Zoo.
According to the Trump administration, Saudi Arabia remains the United States' largest partner in foreign arms sales, with active deals exceeding $129 billion. These new defense agreements are a clear demonstration of Washington's commitment to deepening its partnership with Riyadh.
In a speech delivered at the Saudi-US Investment Forum held in Riyadh on the occasion of Trump's visit, the Saudi Crown Prince said, "Today, we are working on partnership opportunities worth $600 billion, including agreements exceeding $300 billion that were announced during this forum."
The same spokesperson added, "We will work in the coming months on the second phase to complete the remaining agreements, bringing them to $1 trillion," explaining that Saudi Arabia is among the largest US arms customers.
"I really think there's a lot of affection between us," Trump said during his meeting in Riyadh with the Saudi crown prince.
Two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that the United States and Saudi Arabia discussed the possibility of Riyadh purchasing F-35 fighter jets, which the kingdom has long been believed to be interested in. It remains unclear whether these aircraft are part of the deal announced on Tuesday.
Trump, accompanied by a group of business leaders, including billionaire Elon Musk, will travel from Riyadh to Qatar on Wednesday, then to the UAE on Thursday. The itinerary does not include a visit to Israel, raising questions about the status of the close ally in Washington's priorities.
At the investment forum, Trump promised to strengthen relations with Saudi Arabia.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump described the Saudi crown prince as a friend, saying their relationship was good and that Saudi investment would help create jobs in the United States.
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