Saudi King, Crown Prince Congratulate Donald Trump on Election Win

Photo : Reuters

Riyadh – Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman extended their congratulations to Donald Trump on his victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, state media reported on Wednesday. The two leaders, known for their close ties with Trump during his first term, expressed their continued support for strengthening relations between the two nations.

King Salman highlighted the longstanding and robust relationship between Saudi Arabia and the United States, emphasizing the mutual desire to develop and enhance cooperation across various sectors. The King praised the strong bonds between the people and governments of the two countries.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has become the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, followed up with a personal congratulatory message. In his conversation with Trump, Prince Mohammed reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to bolstering its historical and strategic relations with the United States. The prince wished the American people prosperity under Trump's leadership and expressed his aspiration to continue the deep cooperation between the two countries.

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The congratulatory messages come amid a period of fluctuating relations between the two nations. Trump had courted Saudi Arabia early in his presidency, quickly establishing a friendly rapport with the Kingdom, which is a key energy and security partner for the U.S. His first overseas visit in 2017 was to Riyadh, where he was welcomed with an elaborate ceremony, including a sword dance and a military fly-past. This visit signaled the beginning of a strong diplomatic relationship during his first term.

However, the relationship experienced some turbulence in subsequent years, particularly after the 2019 attack on Saudi oil facilities, attributed to Iran. Prince Mohammed voiced his frustration with the Trump administration’s response to the attack, which significantly impacted the Kingdom’s oil production.

Under President Joe Biden, relations with Saudi Arabia became more strained, especially after Biden criticized Saudi Arabia for human rights violations, including the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Despite this, the U.S.-Saudi relationship showed signs of improvement in recent months. Efforts to negotiate a significant agreement, commonly referred to as the "mega-deal," included Saudi Arabia's potential recognition of Israel in exchange for defense cooperation with the U.S. and assistance with a civilian nuclear program. However, these discussions were put on hold following the outbreak of violence between Israel and Hamas in Gaza in October 2023.

At an investor forum in Riyadh last week, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan indicated that despite the halt in the mega-deal talks, bilateral agreements with Washington could still move forward "quite quickly." This suggests that the Kingdom remains keen on deepening ties with the U.S., even as some major initiatives are postponed.

In this context, Saudi Arabia's congratulatory gestures to Trump may signal an ongoing commitment to maintain strong ties, regardless of the evolving political landscape in Washington.