US, Saudi Arabia clinch defining nuclear, F-35 deals in major strategic push

#Saudi #Arabia #clinch #defining #nuclear #F35 #deals #major #strategic #push

The United States and Saudi Arabia signed deals on civil nuclear power and the sale of advanced US-made F-35 fighter jets during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Washington on Tuesday, the White House said.

The two countries have ratified a “joint declaration” on civilian nuclear energy that creates the legal basis for “a decades-long, multibillion-dollar nuclear energy partnership” “based on robust non-viability standards,” the White House said in a statement.

In addition, President Donald Trump approved a “major defense sales package”, which includes the future delivery of F-35 Advanced US fighter jets.

The sale of the stealth fighter jets to the kingdom, which has requested 48 of the advanced jets, would mark the first US sale of advanced fighter jets to Riyadh, a major policy shift.

The deal could alter the military balance in the Middle East and test Washington’s ability to maintain what the United States calls Israel’s “qualitative military edge.” So far, Israel has been the only country in the Middle East to acquire the F-35.

The crown prince wants a deal to unlock access to US nuclear technology and help Saudi Arabia level with the UAE and traditional regional foe Iran.

But progress on such a nuclear deal has been difficult because the Saudis have resisted a U.S. condition that would refuse to enrich uranium or reprocess spent fuel.

Trump has previously said he could see a deal on civilian nuclear power, but added, “It’s not urgent.”

Earlier, Trump praised Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s $1 trillion investment pledge as the US president received a lavish reception at the White House.

Trump moved to cement his growing bromance with the Saudi leader, who is in the Oval Office for the first time in seven years, giving him a parade of troops on horseback and a military flypast featuring F-35 jets that he said Washington would soon sell to Riyadh.

Trump opened his White House meeting with praise for the prince’s “incredible” human rights record.

The heir to the throne then delighted Trump by announcing that he was increasing the $600 billion in Saudi investment he had promised Trump when the US president visited the country in May.

“We can announce that we’re raising that to almost $1 trillion to invest $600 billion,” Prince Mohammed said in the Oval Office.

A smiling Trump asked him to confirm the figures, to which the Saudi royal replied: “Certainly.”

Rose Garden Tour

Trump pulled out all the stops for the Saudi prince, giving him the usual treatment reserved for a state visit to the White House, even though he is not a head of state.

He welcomed bin Salman – known as MBS – to rapid cannon fire on the South Lawn of the White House, before watching a flypast buzzed by US military jets.

The 79-year-old Republican then showed Prince a new gallery of presidential photos by the Rose Garden, including one featuring his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, as an autograph.

Trump has accused the aging Biden of using an automated device to sign presidential pardons, questioning their legality.

Later in the day, First Lady Melania Trump will host a gala dinner.

Portugal soccer legend Cristiano Ronaldo, who is playing in Saudi Arabia, will also be at the White House for the gala day events, a White House official told AFP.

The president has made it a priority to foster ties with the oil-rich Gulf kingdom, especially as he tries to turn the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza into a lasting regional peace.

Trump said he had pressed the prince to normalize relations with Israel, which he had begun in his first term.

Prince Mohammed said he was working to do so “as soon as possible”, but insisted on finding a “clear path to a two-state solution” for a Palestinian state first.