US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) announced that he was designating Saudi Arabia as a Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) while hosting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at a gala dinner at the White House.

The designation, given to nations with close strategic ties to the US, grants financing and priority access for certain military equipment purchases, along with the ability to engage in joint research initiatives, a Bloomberg report noted.

Trump mentioned of the designation, “And I'm just telling you now for the first time, because they wanted to keep a little secret for tonight", noting that only 19 other countries have previously received it.

Which countries are designated as MNNAs?

Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwai

See Full Page