Saudi Arabia is learning the hard way: they can’t count on Trump for protection

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Saudi Arabia secured a major defense deal with the United States and sought increased military support during escalating Houthi attacks but faced reluctance from former President Trump to authorize direct US military intervention. This uncertainty in American engagement raises questions about the reliability of US protection for Riyadh amid growing regional conflict and highlights challenges in their strategic partnership.

Saudi Arabia’s efforts to deepen ties with the United States under the administration of former President Donald Trump have faced significant challenges, as recent events have exposed limits to Washington’s willingness to provide direct military support. For several years, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, pursued a close relationship with Trump and his top advisers, particularly Jared Kushner, leveraging the former president’s transactional approach to foreign policy.

Shortly after Trump resumed the presidency in January 2025, Prince Mohammed announced plans to boost Saudi investment and trade with the United States by $600 billion over four years, later raising that figure to nearly $1 trillion. This ambitious target—equivalent to nearly the kingdom’s entire annual gross domestic product—drew skepticism regarding how Riyadh would achieve such a substantial outflow of capital.

In November 2025, during a visit to Washington, Prince Mohammed signed a defense cooperation agreement and secured a contract to purchase dozens of F-35 stealth fighter jets, underscoring Riyadh’s intent to strengthen military ties with the United States. Historically, Saudi leaders have relied on US guarantees to protect the kingdom against regional threats, particularly from Iran-backed groups such as the Houthis in Yemen.

However, this traditional expectation has been tested amid escalating conflict in the region. Over the summer of 2026, as the Houthis intensified attacks against Saudi targets and their allies in Yemen, Prince Mohammed reportedly reached out multiple times to Trump, urging for US airstrikes against the militia. Despite these appeals, the former president resisted direct military engagement, refraining from ordering strikes or deploying American forces to the Saudi-Yemeni conflict zone.

This stance has prompted observers to note that Riyadh—and similarly positioned Gulf states—may be realizing the limits of relying on American intervention under the Trump administration. The situation further deteriorated on October 10, 2026, when the Houthis launched a cruise missile at Riyadh’s international airport. The attack resulted in at least 13 fatalities and injuries to over 300 people, marking one of the deadliest assaults on Saudi territory in recent years.

Following the strike, Trump made cautious remarks when questioned by reporters in Washington regarding potential US military action against the Yemeni rebels. He stated, “We may. We’re going to look at it. We just found out about the recent attack. So we’ll make a decision,” leaving the possibility of intervention uncertain.

The evolving conflict highlights growing tensions in the region and underscores the complexities of US-Saudi relations amid shifting US foreign policy priorities. While Riyadh continues to invest heavily in military hardware and economic ties with the United States, the kingdom faces mounting risks as the Houthis sustain their campaign and Washington’s readiness to engage directly remains unsettled.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.