The seven things Trump administration needs to know about Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in Washington on Tuesday for meetings with newly-elected US President Donald Trump and his administration.

This will be the first meeting between the two countries after Trump took office in January, with the main grounds being to reaffirm security alliances.

Here are seven things the Trump administration needs to know about Saudi Arabia before heading into the meeting, as reported by Fox News:

The Trump administration’s stance towards Iran’s trouble-making has not gone unseen by Saudi’s leaders

The Trump administration has been very vocal of its stance against the Iranian regime’s meddling and in the region. The US president, the pentagon, and the defense secretary have already deemed Iran a troublemaker in the Middle East and the Gulf, calling it the “biggest security threat to the region.”

Saudi is on the front line of the War on Terror, destroying al-Qaeda and ISIS, while working closely with the US tracking them across the region

Saudi Arabia have provided vital intelligence to the US that has preemptively halted attacks planned to take place in America. The US’s assistant secretary of treasury recognized the Kingdom as a world leader in battling terrorism financing in a testimony to Congress last year.

Saudi Arabia is transforming its economy from an oil-dependent state into a modernized, technologically innovative and economically expanded one

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 campaign highlighted the Kingdom’s long-term economic goals, with close ties to US businesses shown to be vital.

Saudi Arabia is frustrated that, too often, the US does not fully appreciate the relationship between the two countries

The US has sold top military equipment to Saudi Arabia, which in turn has brought hundreds of billions of dollars, as well as created tens of thousands of jobs, to the country. This has also enhanced Saudi Arabia role of maintaining stability in the region.

The US should vocally support and understand the pace of social reform in Saudi Arabia

The US’s acknowledgment of Saudi Arabia’s systemic change towards modernity would be received gratefully. Recognizing the Kingdom’s accomplishments, such as appointing a woman to the head of the Saudi Stock Exchange, would show US support of the Saudi leadership’s path to change.

Saudi Arabia’s government has pushed to end intolerance in the Kingdom by rewriting textbooks and other literature to show the need to understand other cultures and religions

This is crucial in the forward movement of Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Aramco is moving towards becoming partially privatized

When Aramco becomes partially privatized, it will likely be the largest IPO in history – which will be a huge financial opportunity for US advisors and investment banks.