President Trump said Tuesday he will designate Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally, marking a step up in defense ties between the U.S. and the Gulf monarchy.

President Donald Trump designated Saudi Arabia a major non-NATO ally on Tuesday, opening opportunities for more defense trade and security cooperation between the United States and its key partner in the Middle East.

Trump expected to finalize F-35 fighter jet deal with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during White House visit, marking billions in new U.S. weapons sales.

The deal is likely to shift the balance of power in the region, strengthening Saudi Arabia as a Middle Eastern powerhouse and the first Arab nation to receive the most advanced American fighter jets.

President Donald Trump says he has agreed to sell the nation's most advanced fighter jet to Saudi Arabia despite concerns that China could gain access to the plane's vaunted American technology.

The CIA determined that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the 2018 killing. Trump praised bin Salman for his human rights record.

President Trump is deepening the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia, despite the government coming under fire for human right abuses, despite the concerns the prince himself ordered the killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

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