Trump’s Saudi Visit: $142 Billion Arms Bonanza and a Nuclear Gambit

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Modernising its military and flexing its muscle in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia has signed $142 billion worth of arms deals with the U.S. It’s also pledged to pour $600 billion into American investments over the next four years. The deals may open the door for defence firms from elsewhere — including Nordic companies — to get a slice of the action.

The U.S. and Saudi Arabia have finalized the largest defence sales agreement in history, valued at $142 billion. This deal includes advanced military equipment and technological support to bolster Saudi Arabia’s air, space, and coastal defences, as well as border security and communication systems.

President Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed a strategic economic partnership agreement covering cooperation in key sectors including energy, mining, and defence. This partnership signifies a deepening of economic and strategic ties between the two nations.

The agreements include significant investments in technology and infrastructure. Saudi company DataVolt will invest $20 billion in U.S. AI centers, and U.S. tech giants like Google and Oracle pledged $80 billion in joint ventures. Additional projects include a $4.8 billion Boeing aircraft sale and the construction of a $5.8 billion facility in Michigan.

President Trump announced that the U.S. would lift broad sanctions on Syria, stating the move was to give the country an opportunity for “greatness.” This marks a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.

U.S. Nuclear Strategy to Counter China’s Influence

During President Donald Trump’s recent visit to Riyadh, discussions centered on a potential civil nuclear cooperation agreement. This deal would involve U.S. companies assisting in developing Saudi Arabia’s nuclear energy capabilities, aligning with the kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals to diversify its energy sources. By securing this agreement, the U.S. aims to ensure that American firms, rather than Chinese entities, play a key role in Saudi Arabia’s nuclear infrastructure. Riyadh wants the right to enrich uranium on Saudi soil—ostensibly for civilian use, but with obvious military implications.

China has been actively engaging with Saudi Arabia to expand its nuclear collaboration. Recently, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance cooperation in nuclear safety, security, and non-proliferation. This agreement underscores China’s commitment to deepening its ties with Gulf nations and expanding its influence in the region’s energy sector.

The U.S. is concerned that increased Chinese involvement in Saudi Arabia’s nuclear program could lead to reduced transparency and oversight, potentially undermining non-proliferation efforts. By establishing a civil nuclear agreement, the U.S. seeks to maintain influence over the kingdom’s nuclear activities and ensure adherence to international safeguards. Such a deal would mark a historic shift in Gulf nuclear policy—and one likely to stir alarm in both Jerusalem and Tehran.

This initiative is part of a broader U.S. strategy to reinforce alliances in the Middle East and counterbalance China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which has seen significant investments in regional infrastructure and energy projects.

The Arms Deal: $142 Billion

The Egyptian Armed Forces announced at the 2024 Egypt International Air Show that Lockheed Martin will deliver two C-130J-30 Super Hercules tactical airlifters to the Egyptian Air Force (EAF). (Image: Lockheed Martin)

The centrepiece of the visit is a colossal arms package—over $142 billion in advanced U.S. weapons systems. The deal includes:

  • Lockheed Martin: C-130 transport aircraft, missiles, and radars.
  • General Atomics: A $20 billion package for MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones.
  • RTX Corp, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman: Additional systems for air defence, surveillance, and electronic warfare.
  • RTX Corporation (formerly Raytheon): A $3.5 billion sale of 1,000 AIM-120C-8 medium-range air-to-air missiles. The U.S. State Department has approved the possible deal.

MQ-9B SeaGuardian Features

  • Multi-mode 360° maritime surface search radar
  • Lynx® Multi-mode Radar
  • High-definition EO/IR
  • Automatic Identification System (AIS)
  • Dual VHF- / UHF-certified radios
  • DO-178 and DO-254 design assurance for software and avionics
  • Detect and Avoid System (including TCAS / ADS-B and Due Regard Radar)
  • STANAG 4671-compliant type-certifiable design
  • All weather capable, including de-ice / anti-ice system and lightning protection
  • Fatigue- and damage-tolerant airframe; 40,000-hour service life
  • Automatic takeoff and landing capability
  • BLOS / Dual SATCOM command and control data link
  • Open and modular payload mission management system
  • Optional MQ-9B mission kits: – Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) – Tactical and strategic SIGINT – Tactical data link (Link-16) – Airborne Early Warning (AEW) – Communications gateway / relay

Europe and Asia in the Mix

Saudi Arabia allocated approximately $78 billion to the military sector in the 2025 budget. This constitutes 21 percent of total government spending and 7.1% of Saudi Arabia’s gross product. Riyadh isn’t limiting its courtship to Washington. According to French media reports in 2023, Saudi Arabia had been considering acquiring 100 to 200 Dassault Rafale fighter planes. In 2023, Germany blocked further deliveries of Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Saudi Arabia. The Saudi air force already operates 72 Eurofighters, making them its second-largest fighter fleet after the American-made F-15s.

French Dassaul Rafale B at Riat in 2009. (Image: By Tim Felce [Airwolfhound], Wikipedia)
  • France: Talks are under way for 54 Rafale F4 fighters from Dassault Aviation.
  • UK and Italy: Negotiations continue on 48 Eurofighter Typhoons.
  • Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP): Saudi Arabia is lobbying to join this sixth-generation fighter jet programme with the UK, Italy, and Japan. Though Tokyo remains wary, London and Rome are more open—if Riyadh contributes billions and agrees to partial tech localisation.

Iran’s Influence is Waning

Trump’s 2025 visit comes under different circumstances than his 2017 stop in the Kingdom. Back then, the Saudis were desperate for a clear U.S. security umbrella. Today, the urgency has diminished.

Iran remains Riyadh’s chief adversary, but its regional position is diminished. Israel has battered Tehran’s proxies Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, long backed by Iran, has now been ousted. The battlefield map has shifted in Saudi Arabia’s favour.

Despite this, Trump is expected to pledge a renewed U.S. defence commitment: a public assurance that Washington will defend Saudi Arabia if attacked by Iran or its allies. This is not a formal treaty—the required two-thirds Senate majority is almost certainly out of reach—but it’s a symbolic shield, meant to deter Iran and reassure Gulf investors.

A Surprise Yemen Deal

On 6 May, Trump announced a U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The agreement, crafted with Omani mediation, halts U.S. airstrikes in exchange for a cessation of Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping. Israel was left out of the negotiation.

The deal lets Trump frame himself as a peacemaker and gives Riyadh breathing space. With Red Sea shipping protected, the kingdom’s vital oil infrastructure faces fewer immediate threats. For Saudi Arabia, the ceasefire defuses one of the more volatile flashpoints.

The Tech & AI Race: Cutting China Out

Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a tech powerhouse hinges on acquiring U.S.-grade semiconductor and AI technologies. But the U.S. is drawing a hard line: any access to sensitive American tech will require Saudi Arabia to scale back its cooperation with China’s state-linked firms, especially in AI, telecom, and chip design.

The UAE is currently ahead of Saudi Arabia in AI capability and infrastructure. This has triggered a royal scramble. Trump’s visit is expected to yield deals enabling U.S. firms to set up AI hubs in NEOM, the kingdom’s $500 billion mega-city project.

Old Allies, New Deals, Cold Calculations

Trump’s 2025 Saudi visit is not just a rerun of 2017. The players are more self-assured, the alliances more transactional. Iran is weaker. Israel’s exclusion from the Yemen deal is telling. China looms as both a partner and a threat. And amidst it all, the U.S. arms industry prepares for its biggest windfall in years.

For Riyadh, the message is clear: hedge your bets, diversify suppliers, and strike when the Oval Office is sympathetic. For Washington—under Trump—it’s business as usual: arms, oil, and access.

Saudi Arabia’s Primary Arms Suppliers

  • United States. The U.S. has been Saudi Arabia’s principal arms supplier. The $142 billion arms package in 2025 underscores the depth of this relationship, encompassing advanced weaponry from Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and General Atomics. This follows the 2017 agreement during President Trump’s tenure, which included a $110 billion arms deal.
  • United Kingdom. The UK has maintained a longstanding defence relationship with Saudi Arabia, highlighted by the Al-Yamamah arms deal initiated in 1985, valued at over £40 billion by 2006. This deal facilitated the supply of Tornado and Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft.
  • France. France has also been a significant arms supplier. In 2015 alone, France authorized $18 billion in weapons sales to Saudi Arabia.. The kingdom has considered acquiring French fighter jets, especially amid strained relations with the U.S.
  • South Korea. Emerging as a key defence partner, South Korea signed a $3.2 billion deal in 2024 to supply Cheongung II (KM-SAM) air defence systems to Saudi Arabia . Additionally, discussions are underway for joint development of next-generation fighter jets based on the KF-21 Boramae platform.

Nordic defence companies have not been prominently featured in recent defence deals with Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) has been actively seeking to localize defence manufacturing and has invited international defence companies to explore business opportunities within the Kingdom. This initiative aims to promote business localization and support Saudi Arabia’s economic growth, potentially opening avenues for future collaborations with Nordic firms.

Major Saudi Weapon Acquisitions

Saudi Arabia has a a sizeable tank force of M1A2 Abrams tanks. (Image: US Army)
  • Tanks. Saudi Arabia has procured M1A2 Abrams tanks from the U.S., with recent deliveries including 153 additional units by the end of 2021.
  • Fighter Jets. The Royal Saudi Air Force operates a diverse fleet:
    – F-15SA fighters from the U.S.
    – Eurofighter Typhoons from the UK
    – Panavia Tornado aircraft from the UK
  • Air Defence Systems. The Cheongung II (KM-SAM) system from South Korea represents a significant enhancement to Saudi Arabia’s air defence, with ten batteries ordered in 2024

Diversification and Strategic Shifts

While the U.S. remains a primary supplier, Saudi Arabia has diversified its defence partnerships:

  • Russia: In 2017, Saudi Arabia signed agreements to locally produce Russian weapons, including the Kornet-EM anti-tank missile system
  • China: Despite offers, Saudi Arabia has declined China’s J-35 stealth fighter jets, favouring other suppliers
  • Canada: A $15 billion deal in 2014 marked Canada’s largest arms sale, supplying armoured vehicles to Saudi Arabia
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