Bin Salman’s Washington Visit: A Pivotal Step Toward Saudi Diplomatic Reintegration

Bin Salman’s Washington Visit Signals Move Toward Diplomatic Reintegration

Seen by some as a reform-minded modernizer and by others as a ruthless autocrat, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler — traveled to Washington to meet President Donald Trump in what many view as a major step toward restoring his international standing.

Bin Salman, 40, was largely isolated internationally after the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi critic. The CIA concluded the killing was ordered by the crown prince, an assessment that has remained a focal point of criticism even as some U.S. leaders engaged with him. Bin Salman has said he accepted "full responsibility" for the death because it occurred on his watch but denied giving the order.

Diplomatic Context and Stakes

The meeting came after earlier moments of thaw, including President Joe Biden's 2022 trip to Riyadh, which produced a widely shared photo of Biden and bin Salman fist-bumping — a sign that the prince was no longer entirely shunned. This visit, during what is described as Trump’s second term, is widely viewed as the clearest signal yet of diplomatic rehabilitation.

“He’s a different kind of figure now. Obviously, the questions about the manner of his rule and internal repression haven’t gone away. But he’s a changed figure; it’s a changed moment. And, I think, important symbolically in that sense,” said Michael Wahid Hanna, U.S. program director at the International Crisis Group.

Senior U.S. officials told reporters that Trump and bin Salman are expected to sign several economic and defense agreements. At an Oval Office event the day before the meetings, Trump said he would be willing to approve the sale of F-35 stealth fighters to Saudi Arabia — a move that could shift the military balance in the region, where Israel has traditionally been the primary recipient of that advanced technology.

Analysts caution that such announcements do not guarantee immediate delivery. "The devil will kind of be in the details there," said Andrew Leber of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, noting that a comparable UAE agreement later stalled amid U.S. concerns about preserving Israel’s qualitative military edge and the risk that sensitive technology could leak to third parties.

Normalization with Israel and Regional Diplomacy

Talks are also expected to address the possibility of Saudi normalization with Israel and potential Saudi accession to the Abraham Accords, the 2020 U.S.-brokered framework that led several Arab states to formalize ties with Israel. The White House said Trump "hopes" the kingdom will join, but analysts are skeptical about rapid progress.

“There’s no near-term horizon for normalization at the moment,” Hanna said. Fawaz Gerges of the London School of Economics added that Saudi leaders have conditioned normalization on Israeli commitments to a path toward Palestinian statehood — a concession Israeli officials have publicly resisted — and that bin Salman’s calculations are driven by risk management for his rule.

Agreements, Investments and Ethical Concerns

Officials expect announcements on a range of initiatives, including a multibillion-dollar Saudi investment in U.S. artificial intelligence infrastructure, deeper cooperation on civil nuclear energy, and targeted projects linked to a reported $600 billion Saudi investment pledge. The crown prince has also been credited with helping secure a cease-fire between Israeli forces and Hamas militants, a diplomatic win noted by the administration.

Critics, however, raise persistent ethical questions about the relationship between the Trump administration and Gulf states. Trump properties have long hosted Saudi-backed LIV Golf events, and media reports indicate potential large-scale business discussions between the Trump Organization and Saudi interests. "There’s some massive ethical questions in here," said Leber, observing that Gulf states have sought to cultivate access by offering commercial opportunities.

Human Rights and Domestic Change in Saudi Arabia

Human rights groups urge that engagement with Riyadh be paired with sustained pressure on the kingdom’s rights record. A Human Rights Watch report in August documented an "unprecedented surge" in executions in 2025, citing 241 people executed as of Aug. 5.

At the same time, bin Salman has overseen notable social changes in Saudi Arabia, loosening some restrictions on women and opening the country to Western entertainment and major sporting events — from UFC bouts to comedy festivals. Critics note these cultural openings have not been matched by political liberalization. "This hasn’t been political reform in the sense of creating space for real politics, but he’s absolutely, fundamentally reoriented Saudi society and changed the role of the religious authorities," Hanna said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com.