US-Saudi event to include CEOs from Chevron, Qualcomm, Pfizer, source says
![Item 1 of 3 A Chevron logo outside the Chevron building in Houston, Texas, U.S. August 19, 2025. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee [1/3]A Chevron logo outside the Chevron building in Houston, Texas, U.S. August 19, 2025. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Fresizer%2Fv2%2FKRF5PIOGOBMCJKKYOC6IKB2JTA.jpg%3Fauth%3D3e4d8c891a97daf54d997eb9703fd8508584c7f31103af348d9d57c3dd8d260e%26width%3D1200%26quality%3D80&w=1920&q=75)
News Summary
A high-profile U.S.-Saudi Arabia investment forum is expected to draw top corporate executives from both nations during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to Washington this week. Sources indicate that CEOs from major U.S. companies including Chevron, Qualcomm, Cisco, General Dynamics, and Pfizer, along with senior executives from IBM, Alphabet's Google, Salesforce, Andreessen Horowitz, Halliburton, Adobe, State Street, and Parsons Corp, are anticipated to attend. Executives from Saudi Aramco are also expected. The forum is scheduled for November 19 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the day after the Crown Prince meets with U.S. President Donald Trump. Panels will cover artificial intelligence, energy, technology, aerospace, healthcare, and finance. This marks MBS's first trip to the U.S. since the 2018 killing of Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi, an operation U.S. intelligence concluded MBS approved, though the Crown Prince denied ordering it but acknowledged responsibility as the kingdom's de facto ruler. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia previously announced billions in investments during President Trump's Middle East trip in May 2025.
Background
This U.S.-Saudi investment forum marks Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's (MBS) first visit to the U.S. since the 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul. The killing drew global condemnation, with U.S. intelligence concluding that MBS approved the capture or killing of Khashoggi, a prominent critic. MBS has denied ordering the operation but acknowledged responsibility as the kingdom's de facto ruler. Despite human rights concerns, the Donald Trump administration has consistently worked to deepen strategic and economic ties with Saudi Arabia. Billions of dollars in investments were already announced in May 2025 during President Trump's state visit to the Middle East. This forum aims to further solidify and expand these bilateral economic and business collaborations, aligning with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy.
In-Depth AI Insights
Beyond economic interests, what are the deeper strategic motives for both the U.S. (Trump administration) and Saudi Arabia in hosting this high-profile investment forum, especially against the backdrop of the Khashoggi incident? - For the Trump administration, the core objective is to solidify a crucial ally in the Middle East to counter Iranian influence and ensure stable energy supplies, particularly amidst heightened global geopolitical uncertainties in 2025. Economic cooperation serves as a tool to achieve these broader strategic goals, while also showcasing domestic “America First” economic diplomacy successes. - For Saudi Arabia, MBS's visit aims to rehabilitate his international image, particularly post-Khashoggi, and secure critical technology and financial support from U.S. corporations for its Vision 2030 economic diversification. By forging deep partnerships with top U.S. firms, Saudi Arabia seeks to elevate its status as a global investment destination and regional powerhouse. How do the forum's sectoral focuses (AI, energy, technology, aerospace, healthcare, finance) reflect the evolution of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and potential investment opportunities? - These sectoral focuses align perfectly with the priority pillars of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, indicating a clear shift from an oil-dependent economy towards a knowledge-based, diversified one. - AI and Technology: Saudi Arabia urgently needs digital transformation and high-tech industry development, offering vast market and collaboration opportunities for U.S. tech giants like Alphabet, Salesforce, and Adobe, especially in smart city initiatives (e.g., NEOM) and data center construction. - Energy: While Saudi Arabia seeks diversification, energy remains its core competency. Partnerships with Chevron and Halliburton may focus on new energy technologies, carbon capture, or efficiency enhancements in traditional oil and gas sectors. - Aerospace and Healthcare: These reflect Saudi Arabia's long-term plans for infrastructure development, defense industrial self-sufficiency, and improving national health standards, providing entry points for companies like General Dynamics and Pfizer into new markets. Considering the U.S. election outcome and current geopolitical landscape, what long-term impact might this 'commercial diplomacy' model have on future U.S.-Saudi relations? - The pragmatic alliance between the Trump administration and Saudi Arabia, prioritizing strategic and economic interests over human rights concerns, is likely to be a sustained feature of U.S. foreign policy, particularly during Republican presidencies. - This model stabilizes bilateral relations in the short term. However, in the long term, if human rights issues remain unaddressed, it could pose reputational risks and potential political pressure for U.S. companies operating in Saudi Arabia. Yet, in 2025, with Trump's re-election, this business-driven diplomatic approach is expected to continue and potentially deepen. - By attracting U.S. capital and technology, Saudi Arabia gradually assumes a more significant role in global supply chains, thereby enhancing its leverage in geopolitical maneuvers and potentially offering greater flexibility in its dealings with other major powers, including China.