Relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia have undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years, shifting from diplomatic tension under former President Joe Biden to a much closer partnership under President Donald Trump.
The relationship, once strained by disagreements over human rights and the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, has evolved into one centred on economic investment, regional security and strategic cooperation.
Four years ago, then-President Joe Biden’s meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was marked by an awkward fist bump that symbolised the uneasy ties between Washington and Riyadh.
Before taking office, Biden had pledged to make Saudi Arabia a “pariah” after US intelligence concluded that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had personally ordered the killing and dismemberment of Saudi journalist and government critic Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey.
However, the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war dramatically altered global energy markets, sending oil prices sharply higher and forcing the United States to seek closer engagement with Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter.
As energy prices surged, the Biden administration looked to Riyadh for support in stabilising global oil supplies. Although the two leaders later met again and exchanged a formal handshake, efforts to rebuild a strong diplomatic relationship progressed slowly.
Since returning to the White House, President Donald Trump has taken a different approach by actively strengthening ties with Saudi Arabia and its leadership.
One of Trump’s earliest major overseas visits after his return to office was to Saudi Arabia in May 2025, where Saudi companies reportedly committed to invest $600 billion in the United States.
The relationship continued to deepen in November when Trump welcomed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House with a high-profile ceremony that included a personal greeting on a red carpet, a military flyover and a tour of the presidential residence.
Trump has repeatedly spoken positively about Saudi Arabia’s leadership and often praised the kingdom’s role as a key strategic partner.
The US president has also frequently claimed that King Salman bin Abdulaziz told him the United States was “a dead country” during Biden’s presidency, using the remark to contrast his administration’s foreign policy with that of his predecessor.
Despite the growing partnership between Washington and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia has recently faced increasing regional security challenges.
In recent months, the kingdom has found itself under the threat of Iranian attacks, while disruptions to its energy exports have intensified following US military strikes on Iran, adding another layer of complexity to the evolving relationship between the two allies.
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