President Donald Trump designated Saudi Arabia as a Major Non- NATO Ally (MNNA) of the United States during a high-stake visit by Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman to Washington D.C. last week, making the kingdom the 20th country to hold the status, a powerful symbol of close relations.

The designation came as human rights critics raised concerns about Saudi Arabia's political repression of dissidents, with the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 casting a shadow over the visit.

The designation “is a favorite tool of U.S. presidents to cap off major visits with a symbolic flourish to indicate elevated relations," according to Tressa Guenov, director of programs and operations at the Atlantic Council and former deputy assistant secretary of defense. The designation “does

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