Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Defence, Prince Khalid bin Salman, held a series of high-level meetings in Washington this week with senior U.S. officials, laying groundwork for the upcoming visit of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, the discussions involved U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.

The talks centred on bilateral relations, strategic partnership, and shared efforts to address regional and international developments, the Saudi official statement said.

The meetings come ahead of the Crown Prince’s official working visit to the White House on 18 November, where he is expected to meet President Donald Trump.

Riyadh is preparing to finalise a wide-ranging defence and technology agreement with the United States, with sectors such as semiconductors and air-defence systems in focus.

Sources say the deal could mirror Washington’s recent pact with Qatar, committing the U.S. to certain defence guarantees for the Kingdom.

The meetings reflect a deepening strategic convergence between the two nations, with the United States keen to reinforce its Gulf partnerships and Saudi Arabia seeking advanced security cooperation and technology transfers.

With the Crown Prince’s forthcoming visit providing the launch pad, both governments are racing to solidify the framework before formal signatures.

The outcome will shape not only the U.S.–Saudi bilateral agenda, but also the regional balance in the Middle East, where both states face shared challenges including Iranian influence, regional conflicts and evolving supply-chain priorities in defence technology.