On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump officially declared Saudi Arabia a “Major Non-NATO Ally” in a major development. The announcement was made during a White House dinner in honour of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

President Trump said this status will take military cooperation between the two countries to a new level. He added that this designation is very important for Saudi Arabia and was kept as a surprise for the Crown Prince.

So far, only 19 other countries have this special status, including Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, and Qatar. It gives U.S. partners military and economic benefits, but it does not include NATO-style security guarantees.

The two countries also signed a Strategic Defence Agreement, which the White House said will strengthen deterrence in the Middle East and make it easier for U.S. defence companies to work in Saudi Arabia. However, it is slightly less comprehensive than a full NATO-style agreement, which Saudi Arabia had initially requested.

The White House confirmed that President Trump approved the future sale of advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. This is the first time the U.S. will sell these stealth jets to Riyadh, which could change the balance of power in the region. Currently, only Israel has these jets in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia also agreed to buy 300 U.S. tanks.

Crown Prince Mohammed promised to increase Saudi investment in the U.S. from $600 billion to $1 trillion, although no timeline or details were given. The two countries also signed a joint statement to provide a legal framework for civil nuclear energy cooperation.

The Crown Prince thanked President Trump for the warm welcome and said the two countries have shared a 90-year relationship, with economic cooperation now reaching new heights.