The United States and Saudi Arabia signed two transformative agreements on Tuesday during an official visit to Washington by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, permanently altering the strategic landscape of the Middle East through the simultaneous approval of F-35 stealth fighter jet transfers and a far-reaching civil nuclear energy partnership that had been under negotiation for years.

President Donald Trump formally authorized an expansive defense package that lifts all previous restrictions and clears the way for the Kingdom to acquire dozens of Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft, the most advanced fifth-generation fighter in the world, along with associated weapons systems, training, and long-term logistical support. The decision reverses earlier congressional and administrative hesitations tied to regional escalation concerns and human rights considerations, granting Riyadh parity with close U.S. allies such as Israel and the United Arab Emirates in air superiority capabilities.

In parallel, the two governments ratified a binding joint declaration on civil nuclear cooperation that establishes the comprehensive legal, technical, and regulatory architecture for what the White House described as a decades-long, multi-billion-dollar program to construct and operate nuclear power reactors on Saudi soil. The agreement incorporates the gold-standard 123 nonproliferation requirements, including stringent safeguards, inspections, and restrictions on uranium enrichment and reprocessing to prevent any diversion toward military purposes.

Also Read: Netanyahu Rejects Statehood Path as Israel Pressures U.S. Ahead of UN Vote

The accords were concluded following a series of high-level meetings at the White House involving Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and national security officials from both sides. Administration statements underscored that the dual package simultaneously advances Saudi Vision 2030 diversification goals, reinforces deterrence against regional adversaries, and cements an enduring U.S.-Saudi strategic axis amid evolving threats in the Gulf and beyond.

These breakthroughs represent one of the most consequential single-day advancements in U.S.-Saudi relations since the original 1945 Quincy Pact, equipping the Kingdom with cutting-edge military technology and peaceful nuclear infrastructure while securing American commercial and geopolitical leadership in the Middle East for decades to come.

Also Read: Iran Accuses U.S., Israel of ‘Acts of Aggression’ in Explosive Complaint to UN