Saudi Defense Minister's Secret Talks with Trump to Discuss Middle East Peace Efforts

Prince Khalid bin Salman, the Saudi Defense Minister and brother of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, recently held secret discussions with President Donald Trump and several influential officials in the White House. These talks were focused on easing tensions with Iran and moving towards negotiations, as well as finding resolutions for ongoing conflicts, such as those in Gaza, and addressing the status of hostages.

While the conversations did not center solely on the normalization of relations with Israel, they explored necessary steps to advance such discussions. Sources indicated that there was an encouraging atmosphere of progress regarding these matters.

The Saudi leadership is currently working to finalize a defense and trade agreement with the United States. According to insiders, both nations are aligned on key issues, indicating a strong, united front. This meeting took place shortly after President Trump noted interest from other nations in the Abraham Accords amid recent geopolitical changes in the region, particularly concerning Iran’s nuclear threats during what has been referred to as the "12-Day War."

The Abraham Accords aim to establish normalized relations between Israel and several Sunni Gulf and North African countries and were initially signed in September 2020. U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff stated that expanding these accords remains one of Trump’s primary goals, with expectations for significant announcements regarding new countries joining soon.

White House Press Secretary highlighted Syria as a potential candidate for joining the accords, reflecting on a previous historic meeting in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi mentioned that Lebanon and Syria are among the leading nations likely to connect with the accord. Despite the Biden administration facing criticism for not expanding these agreements further, there remains hope among some officials that such efforts could regain momentum under Trump's potential second term.