WASHINGTON (November 18, 2025)- The U.S. and the crown prince of Saudi Arabia are expected to meet today. Officials have planned to sign deals ranging from weapon sales to artificial intelligence and critical mineral agreements. This meeting marks a turnaround for the crown prince due to him being branded a pariah in 2018 after the CIA concluded he approved the killing of a Washington Post columnist.
For additional context and analysis, please consider Gordon Gray, the Kuwait Professor of Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Affairs at the Elliott School of International Affairs at the George Washington University. Professor Gray directs the Middle East Policy Forum, which brings speakers to the Elliott School to discuss topical issues related to the region. Professor Gray also was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs from 2005 until 2008; his responsibilities included the promotion of U.S. interests in the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa, and oversight of the bureau’s Regional Affairs office.
To speak with Professor Gray, please contact Skyler Sales at skylers
gwu [dot] edu (skylers[at]gwu[dot]edu).
-GW-