• MBS makes first visit to White House in more than seven years.
• Trump expects to build on a $600 billion Saudi investment pledge.
• Saudi priorities include defense, technology, nuclear power.
  

Saudi Arabia will invest up to $1 trillion in the United States, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told US President Donald Trump during their meeting at the White House on Tuesday.

“I believe, Mr President, in today and tomorrow, we can announce that we are going to increase that $600 billion to almost $1 trillion for investment, real investment, and real opportunity,” the prince said as he appeared with Trump in front of reporters at the Oval Office.

“Now, you’re saying to me now that the $600 billion will be $1 trillion?” Trump said, to which the Saudi royal replied: “Definitely.”

Earlier, Trump had welcomed Crown Prince to the White House, making his first White House visit in more than seven years.

He was greeted with a lavish display of pomp and ceremony presided over by Trump on the South Lawn.

Talks between the two leaders are expected to advance security ties, civil nuclear cooperation, and multibillion-dollar business deals with the kingdom. But there will likely be no major breakthrough on Saudi Arabia normalising ties with Israel, despite pressure from Trump for such a landmark move.

The meeting underscores a key relationship — between the world’s biggest economy and the top oil exporter — that Trump has made a high priority in his second term.

The warm welcome for bin Salman in Washington is the latest sign that relations have recovered from the deep strain.

During a day of White House diplomacy, bin Salman will hold talks with Trump in the Oval Office, have lunch in the Cabinet Room and attend a formal black-tie dinner in the evening, giving it many of the trappings of a state visit. US and Saudi flags festooned lamp posts in front of the White House.

Trump expects to build on a $600 billion Saudi investment pledge made during his visit to the kingdom in May, which will include the announcement of dozens of targeted projects, a senior US administration official said.

The US and Saudi Arabia were ready to strike deals on Tuesday for defence sales, enhanced cooperation on civil nuclear energy and a multibillion-dollar investment in US artificial intelligence infrastructure, the official said on condition of anonymity.

Trump told reporters on Monday, “We’ll be selling” F-35s to Saudi, which has requested to buy 48 of the advanced aircraft.

This would be the first US sale of the fighter jets to Saudi Arabia and mark a significant policy shift. The deal could alter the military balance in the Middle East and test Washington’s definition of maintaining what the US has termed Israel’s “qualitative military edge.” Until now, Israel has been the only country in the Middle East to have the F-35.

Beyond military equipment, the Saudi leader is seeking new security guarantees. Most experts expect Trump to issue an executive order creating the kind of defence pact he recently gave to Qatar, but still short of the congressionally ratified NATO-style treaty the Saudis initially sought.

DUBAI: Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder emerged as a major crowd-puller at the Dubai Air Show, drawing steady footfall from aviation enthusiasts, defence professionals and families, and reinforcing Pakistan’s growing profile in regional aerospace.

The JF-17 display featured a full weapons fit, including air-to-air and air-to-surface munitions, which became a focal point for visitors.

International defence experts were seen examining the loadout and engaging with Pakistani personnel about performance, maintenance, and export viability.

Dubai Police officers also posed for photos with the aircraft and pilots, reflecting the exhibit’s strong public appeal.

The aircraft, displayed in Pakistan Air Force colours with the green crescent flag, received continuous attention throughout the day.

Observers praised the jet’s cost-effectiveness, multirole capability, and proven service record, noting its attraction for countries seeking reliable performance at competitive acquisition and lifecycle costs.

In contrast, India’s Tejas light combat aircraft attracted comparatively lighter footfall and remained largely unattended at its stand several hundred metres away.

Visitors were rarely seen gathering around the aircraft, according to observations on-site.

When asked by Geo News about the timing of an aerial display, a Pakistani pilot, standing by the JF-17, responded with a smile that the aircraft’s real demonstration had already been delivered in combat, suggesting further stunts were unnecessary.

The comment echoed the mood among Pakistan supporters at the show, who cited the jet’s operational record as evidence of capability.

Pakistan has asserted recent successes in air engagements against India, claims that have kept the programme in international discussion and underscored the JF-17’s frontline credibility.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to take action against a violent “handful of extremists” among Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, following clashes and another attack on Monday.

On Monday evening, homes and vehicles in a Palestinian village were set on fire, just hours after members of the so-called Hilltop Youth clashed with security forces who were dismantling an illegal settler outpost.

Violence in the West Bank has surged since the Hamas attack on Israel triggered the Gaza war in October 2023.

In recent weeks, attacks attributed to Israeli settlers—particularly those living in outposts—have increased, targeting Palestinians and sometimes even Israeli soldiers.

“I view with great severity the violent riots and the attempt by a handful of extremists to take the law into their own hands,” Netanyahu said, calling the perpetrators “a group that does not represent” settlers in the Palestinian territories.

He added, “I call on law enforcement authorities to deal with the rioters to the fullest extent of the law.

I intend to address this personally and convene the relevant ministers as soon as possible to confront this serious issue.”

Earlier on Monday, Israeli security forces deployed hundreds of personnel to evacuate and demolish the illegal Tzur Misgavi outpost in the Gush Etzion area, near the Palestinian town of Sair.

Security forces fired tear gas and stun grenades during clashes with extremist settlers, who were trying to evict Palestinian residents and establish settlements without government approval.

Some demonstrators climbed onto a digger and stood atop structures as bulldozers demolished them.

At least 10 prefabricated homes were destroyed, leaving women with young children sitting amid the rubble.

Village attacked

Hours later, the Israeli military said it had been dispatched alongside police to the nearby Palestinian village of Jab’a, around 30 kilometres southwest of Jerusalem, following reports of “dozens of Israeli civilians who set fire to and vandalised homes and vehicles”.

“Israeli security forces at the scene are conducting searches to locate involved individuals. The incident is still ongoing,” it said in a statement.

“These violent incidents divert the attention of commanders and soldiers from their primary mission of defence and counter-terrorism.”

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said: “The riot of the Hilltop Youth in the village of Jab’a is another stage in the escalating violence.”

The United Nations said October had been the worst month for West Bank settler violence since it began recording incidents in 2006, with 264 attacks that caused casualties or property damage.

Almost none of the perpetrators have been held to account by the Israeli authorities.

Shaming Judaism

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the “Jewish rioters” in the West Bank were harming Israel, “shaming Judaism and causing damage to the settlement enterprise”.

Defence Minister Israel Katz said the government would “continue to develop and grow settlements” while upholding the law “and the stability of the region, as he condemned the “criminal anarchists”.

Israel’s military chief Eyal Zamir last week pledged to halt settler violence in the West Bank, following a wave of attacks targeting Palestinians.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, and more than 500,000 Israelis now live there in settlements, alongside some three million Palestinians.

While all Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory are illegal under international law, outposts are also prohibited under Israeli law.

However, many end up being legalised by the Israeli authorities.

At least 1,006 Palestinians, including militants, have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces or settlers since the Gaza war started, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

During the same period, 43 Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed in Palestinian attacks in the West Bank, according to official Israeli figures.