Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan signed a major Strategic Artificial Intelligence Partnership, described as a “historic step” in the two countries’ relationship.
The partnership “reflects the firm commitment of both sides to advance innovation and technological progress, pursuing a long-term, comprehensive economic security partnership to deepen shared security commitments and foster economic prosperity, utilizing advanced and future technologies for the mutual benefit of our two great countries,” a joint statement explains.
Both countries noted that the partnership allows for the “supply of advanced semiconductors, the development of AI applications, building and developing advanced AI infrastructure, building national capabilities, and expanding high-value investments between the two countries,” the statement adds. The partnership is expected to contribute to innovation, growth, and economic returns for the United States and Saudi Arabia.
According to a White House fact sheet, the AI developments give Saudi Arabia access to “world-leading American systems while protecting U.S. technology from foreign influence, ensuring that American innovators will shape the future of global AI.”
The agreement follows President Trump securing a nearly $1 trillion pledge from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to invest in the U.S.
“You’ve agreed to invest $600 billion into the United States and because he’s my friend, he might make it a trillion, but I’m going to have to work on him,” President Trump said from the Oval Office. “But it’s 600. We can count on 600 billion. But, that number could go up a little bit higher.”
“That means investments in plants, in companies, money on Wall Street. And what it really means for everybody, what really counts is jobs. A lot of jobs. We have a lot of jobs,” the president added.
Mohammed bin Salman then pledged to increase Saudi Arabia’s investments to $1 trillion.
