King Salman chairs Cabinet session in Jeddah as Riyadh eyes historic economic alignment with Washington
Saudi Arabia is doubling down on its economic ambitions with the United States. The Kingdom confirmed a plan to pour over $600 billion into joint trade and investment projects, aiming to reshape the U.S.-Saudi partnership over the next four years.
Chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, Tuesday’s Cabinet session in Jeddah was more than ceremonial—it laid out a vision that blends economic urgency with diplomatic momentum. The $600 billion figure, reaffirmed during the meeting, includes previously announced deals worth over $300 billion inked during U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent trip to Riyadh.
A Strategic Shift With Historical Undertones
The tone from the Saudi side is clear: this isn’t business as usual.
During the session, King Salman expressed gratitude to President Trump for visiting the Kingdom, calling the bilateral talks “historic.” And they might just be. The Cabinet highlighted the ambition to take relations into “an unprecedented historical level,” pointing to major realignments in energy, defense, infrastructure, and technology.
One sentence in the Cabinet’s official statement stood out: “The Kingdom sees the U.S. not just as an ally, but as a co-architect in reshaping the region’s economic future.” That’s a bold declaration, especially with ongoing shifts in global power dynamics.
$300 Billion Already on the Table
The numbers aren’t just eye-catching—they’re real.
More than $300 billion in trade deals and co-investments were publicly rolled out during the Saudi-US Investment Forum on May 13 in Riyadh. That forum coincided with President Trump’s high-profile visit, his first foreign stop since taking office for a second term.
• These deals include joint ventures in clean energy, AI development hubs, defense sector expansions, and large-scale infrastructure developments across both nations.
The emphasis wasn’t just on oil or military arms—though those still matter. The broader focus spanned data centers, smart logistics corridors, and biotech manufacturing. And yes, oil still came up—but only as a part of a wider basket.
A Cabinet in Sync With Vision 2030
At the heart of this is Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 strategy—a sweeping economic diversification plan that’s reshaping Saudi Arabia from within.
During the Cabinet session, the Crown Prince’s speech at the recent GCC-USA Summit was given prominent mention. Officials described it as “comprehensive” and “future-focused,” echoing Riyadh’s ambition to modernize governance, empower youth, and strengthen ties with key allies.
In his speech, the Crown Prince emphasized peaceful conflict resolution and stressed multilateral cooperation. But economics was the dominant theme, especially in coordination with friendly nations like the United States.
It’s not hard to see why.
With oil revenues stabilizing and state-owned firms like Aramco entering new commercial territory, Riyadh is seeking new engines for growth. Teaming up with U.S. investors and tech giants fits neatly into that playbook.
Geopolitics Meets Economic Realism
This kind of cooperation isn’t just about GDP boosts—it’s strategic.
Both Riyadh and Washington are acutely aware of shifting geopolitical sands, especially with China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Russia’s increased presence in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia’s alignment with Washington—especially in economic terms—could serve as a counterbalance.
The Cabinet’s messaging reflected this nuance. Officials praised Trump’s “clear commitment” to Middle Eastern stability and U.S. investments in the region. Saudi leaders framed the new investments as “not only commercial, but stabilizing.”
Let’s not ignore timing here. This reaffirmation came just days after a flurry of regional diplomatic activity, including backchannel talks with European and Asian leaders.
What’s Coming Next? Here’s What We Know
There’s still a lot under wraps, but some concrete initiatives were quietly confirmed during the session.
According to Minister of State Dr. Essam bin Saad bin Saeed, several implementation tracks are already being fast-tracked. These include:
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Establishment of a new Saudi-U.S. Strategic Economic Council to oversee project execution
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Accelerated licensing for joint ventures in sectors like clean energy and digital infrastructure
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A formal launch of the U.S.-Saudi Startup Corridor in Q4 2025
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Direct sovereign investment through the Public Investment Fund (PIF) in selected U.S.-based R&D centers
One official described the scope as “perhaps the most ambitious bilateral investment alignment in modern Gulf history.”
Building Long-Term Economic Trust
There’s a human layer to all this too.
As political leaders talk dollars and strategy, the longer-term impact may come from the connections forged between American and Saudi businesses, universities, and local communities. Think less red tape, more joint research. Fewer one-off deals, more deep partnerships.
That’s where the Cabinet’s emphasis on “economic integration” over simple trade comes in. Integration implies shared infrastructure, co-built institutions, and labor mobility—not just exports and contracts.
And with the PIF eyeing assets from Silicon Valley to the Rust Belt, it looks like Riyadh wants a bigger stake in America’s future, not just its markets.
