US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that Saudi Arabia will be formally recognized as a major non-NATO ally of the United States.

“Tonight, I’m pleased to announce that we’re taking our military cooperation to even greater heights by formally designating Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally, which is something that is very important to them,” Trump said at a gala White House dinner honoring Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The designation welcomes Saudi Arabia to a group of only 19 countries granted special military and strategic privileges in partnership with Washington.

The announcement followed a private meeting between Trump and the Crown Prince earlier in the day during which the two leaders finalized a series of sweeping agreements aimed at strengthening the U.S.-Saudi strategic relationship. Among the deals are plans for future deliveries of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia—a move that has drawn concern from Israel, which fears the sale could undermine its air superiority in the region.

Trump was asked during the meeting if the F-35s to be sold to Saudi Arabia will be the same as those sold to Israel, and he replied, “I think they will be pretty similar, yeah.”

He went on to emphasize the importance of both allies: “Saudi Arabia is a great ally, and Israel is a great ally. I know they’d [Israel] like you to get planes of reduced caliber. I don’t think that makes you too happy.” He added that he believes both Israel and Saudi Arabia “are at a level where they should get top-of-the-line” aircraft.

When Trump was asked about reports that Israel requested that the US condition the sale of F-35s to Riyadh on a normalization agreement with Jerusalem, Trump replied, “Israel is aware, and they’re going to be very happy.”

Bin Salman said at the meeting that Saudi Arabia wants to join the Abraham Accords but also wants a clear path for “a two-state solution.”

The Saudi prince also promised that Riyadh will “definitely help” contribute to the reconstruction of Gaza.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)