The United States has formally designated Saudi Arabia a Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA), a significant upgrade in bilateral defence ties announced by President Donald Trump during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to the White House on November 18.

Trump unveiled the designation at a dinner in honour of the Crown Prince. The MNNA status grants Riyadh a suite of defence-trade privileges. These include the sale of 48 F-35 jets, streamlined access to U.S. military technology, eligibility for joint research and development with the Pentagon, and the potential stationing of U.S. war-reserve materiel on Saudi soil. The two countries also signed a joint declaration on the completion of negotiations on civil nuclear energy cooperation.

The approval to sell the F-35 stealth fighter jets to S

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