Between Ceremony and Strategy: A Machiavellian Reading of the MBS–Trump Meeting
- Ahmed Fathi
- Nov 17, 2025
- 3 min read
By: Ahmed Fathi
Washington, D.C., New York: — On the night before Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman steps onto the South Lawn, Washington feels unusually alert. Officials here understand that tomorrow’s visit is more than pageantry. It is a careful exchange between two leaders who know the weight of timing, leverage, and political necessity. The meeting carries all the outward signs of diplomacy—but beneath the surface, it has the unmistakable contours of a Machiavellian negotiation.
White House aides say the November 18 program will include an arrival ceremony, a private Oval Office session, and the signing of several agreements touching defense, technology, and investment (Reuters). It is the crown prince’s most significant moment in Washington since 2018, when the killing of Jamal Khashoggi brought a chill to U.S.–Saudi ties and ignited global outrage (Reuters). That episode still hovers in the background, even if neither side intends to dwell on it.
Defense and Strategic Guarantees
Saudi Arabia enters the talks with a clear mission: secure stronger U.S. security guarantees and access to more advanced American weaponry. Analysts describing the visit note that both sides see a rare opening to redraw the contours of a defense relationship that has wavered over the years (military.com). But the conversations won’t be simple. Washington remains openly wary of Chinese technology creeping into Gulf defense systems and of anything that could alter Israel’s military advantage.
Technology, Investment, and Vision 2030
If defense is the backbone of the visit, economics will be its public face. Riyadh is preparing to unveil a slate of initiatives tied to its Vision 2030 agenda—AI partnerships, data-center investments, and broader tech collaboration (Global Affairs). A joint investment summit running alongside the visit reinforces the message: this trip is meant to produce deals, not just headlines.
Israel, Palestine, and Regional Diplomacy
President Trump is expected to push hard on the question of normalization with Israel. Saudi officials, however, continue to insist that any breakthrough must involve genuine movement toward Palestinian statehood (military.com). With the region still recalibrating after the Gaza conflict, the crown prince arrives in Washington holding one of the most influential cards in Middle Eastern diplomacy.
Human Rights and the Narrative Shadow
Human-rights organizations have called on the White House to raise concerns about detentions, executions, and restrictions on expression inside the kingdom (HRW). These issues likely won’t dominate the official talking points, but they remain part of the diplomatic atmosphere—an unavoidable reminder of the complexities that accompany a partnership rooted in strategic interests.
A Machiavellian Undercurrent
What makes this visit particularly striking is the subtle Machiavellian choreography running through it. Both leaders understand the politics of perception, the calculation of power, and the value of engagement even with imperfect allies. Machiavelli argued that stability often requires difficult choices—and tomorrow’s meeting reflects that logic.
For Washington, the priority is reclaiming influence in a Middle East where rival powers are eager to fill any vacuum. For Riyadh, it is about legitimacy, security, and positioning itself at the center of the region’s technological and political future. Each side recognizes the other’s ambitions—and knows exactly what it can extract in return.
In that sense, the visit is not merely diplomatic theatre. It is a reminder that modern statecraft often lives in the space between what is announced publicly and what is bargained privately. Machiavelli would have recognized the moment: two leaders proceeding with caution, driven by interest, calculating risk, and shaping outcomes that will outlast the ceremony.
Tomorrow’s meeting will generate the expected photographs and statements. But its real impact—true to the spirit of Machiavellian politics—will be measured in how the relationship evolves in the months and years that follow.