Trump, MBS and Pakistan’s army chief seen forming new strategic triangle

President Donald Trump’s red-carpet reception for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Washington is being viewed as a major geopolitical moment, with Kamran Khan telling viewers that the meeting reflects a fast-emerging “triangle” of cooperation between the United States, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

Speaking in an episode of his program On My Radar, Khan said the global media is highlighting what he called a “historic triangle” led by Trump, Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir. He argued that the three leaders appear aligned on defense, strategic relations, economic cooperation and efforts to address the conflict in Gaza.

The crown prince arrived in Washington for his first U.S. trip in eight years, Khan said, and was welcomed with a level of ceremony he described as unprecedented. According to his account, U.S. Air Force fighter jets saluted the Saudi leader, ceremonial horse guards conducted a march-past, and a full honor guard greeted him on arrival. Trump personally welcomed the crown prince outside the White House, a gesture Khan compared to the U.S. president’s recent receptions for Pakistan’s army chief.

Khan said the meeting is of particular interest to Pakistan because it brings together the leaders of two of its closest partners—Saudi Arabia and the United States. He noted that observers around the world are interpreting the White House visit through the lens of a growing strategic partnership linking Washington, Riyadh and Islamabad.

Khan pointed out that Pakistan’s longstanding ties with Saudi Arabia are well known globally, and that the countries signed an “extraordinary” defense pact two months earlier. He added that U.S.-Saudi relations, which he said had suffered during the Biden administration, appear to be warming again under Trump.

According to Khan, Trump announced that the United States would sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, while Mohammed bin Salman pledged what he described as the largest investment commitment in U.S. history. He also said promised American and Saudi investments in Pakistan’s natural resources are close to materializing.

Khan told viewers that Trump frequently praises both Mohammed bin Salman and Field Marshal Munir, adding that the U.S. president “spares no words” when complimenting the crown prince. He noted that Trump has lauded Munir repeatedly at global forums and referred to him as his “favorite field marshal.”

He also said Washington’s growing closeness to Riyadh mirrors recent U.S. moves to designate both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia as “non-NATO defense allies,” highlighting what he views as deepening military and strategic coordination.

Khan recalled that U.S.-Saudi relations deteriorated sharply after the 2018 killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, an episode that dominated American and global media coverage. He said the fallout created complications that lasted through the Biden administration. Trump, by contrast, defended Mohammed bin Salman’s position on the matter, Khan noted.

In Washington this week, Mohammed bin Salman acknowledged that the journalist’s death was painful and said Saudi Arabia conducted its own investigation and strengthened internal systems to prevent such incidents, Khan recounted.

Khan said that despite past tensions, the world’s attention today is focused on the renewed warmth between Trump and Mohammed bin Salman. He said the crown prince appeared more relaxed and expressive than in earlier visits, describing scenes of the two leaders smiling and laughing together.

Analysts, he said, are watching closely as the world’s largest military power and the Muslim world’s leading economic power rebuild ties. Because Pakistan has close relations with both states, Khan argued, the convergence carries significant implications for Islamabad.

He emphasized that Field Marshal Munir’s own meetings with Trump and the crown prince in recent weeks reflected similar sentiments of respect and alignment. After those meetings, he said, Trump publicly called Munir his “favorite” military leader, a remark that drew attention in regional media.

Khan also highlighted a black-tie dinner hosted by Trump in honor of Mohammed bin Salman in Washington, which he said brought together senior Saudi officials and major U.S. business leaders. According to his account, attendees included Elon Musk, Tim Cook, Jensen Huang, Michael Dell, Lisa Su, Chevron CEO Mike Wirth, Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser, and prominent investor Stephen Schwarzman. Khan said the crown prince used the event to emphasize the historic ties between Riyadh and Washington and outline future strategic and economic plans.

In discussing Pakistan’s ties with Saudi Arabia, Khan recalled that the two countries signed a defense pact two months earlier, and he connected that development to Riyadh’s new strategic deal with Washington. Together, he argued, these moves contribute to the impression of a new “triangle” involving the United States, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

Khan said the three leaders also share optimism about addressing the conflict in Gaza. He highlighted the approval of a Gaza peace resolution at the United Nations, supported by Pakistan. Pakistan’s UN envoy Asim Iftikhar said Islamabad backed the measure with the support of the Gulf Cooperation Council and a group of eight Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia and Turkey.

According to Khan, Trump has proposed a 20-point peace plan that addresses issues ranging from a cease-fire to governance and reconstruction in Gaza. He told viewers that the plan is Trump’s “brainchild,” that Arab states—especially Saudi Arabia—are expected to finance reconstruction, and that Pakistan could receive a central role in a potential Gaza peacekeeping force.

Khan said the emerging trilateral dynamic also aligns with Trump’s three stated goals at a recent summit in Sharm el-Sheikh: peace in Gaza, Gaza’s reconstruction and establishing lasting stability through a revived version of the “Abraham Accords.”

He then outlined the background of the accords, launched during Trump’s first term. Khan said the agreements were designed to normalize relations between Israel and Arab states and promote cooperation in security, economy, technology, tourism and intelligence. He recalled that the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan recognized Israel during Trump’s first term, while Turkey, Jordan and Egypt had recognized Israel earlier. He added that Tunisia, Oman and Qatar maintain formal channels of engagement with Israel.

Khan told viewers that Saudi Arabia and Qatar are now being seriously viewed as possible future participants in the accords. He argued that peaceful coexistence in the Middle East requires the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, a position he said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia share fully.

Field Marshal Munir has repeatedly stated that a two-state solution is the only viable path to durable peace, Khan said. He added that Mohammed bin Salman has also emphasized that long-term regional stability requires firm guarantees for a two-state outcome and that the crown prince declared Saudi Arabia’s willingness to join the Abraham Accords framework if those guarantees are met.

Khan said many observers believe Trump’s close ties with Israel position him as pro-Israel, but added that if Trump succeeds in expanding Arab recognition of Israel under the accords, he could become a credible contender for the Nobel Peace Prize. He noted that some analysts argue Israel now holds a dominant position in the region, that Iran’s foreign policy is shifting, and that Hamas and Hezbollah face growing pressure.

Against that backdrop, Khan told viewers that if the United States, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan—acting as what he called a “triangle”—play a decisive role in establishing a free and sovereign Palestinian state, the partnership could become an international model for conflict resolution.

He concluded that global politics may be witnessing the emergence of a new strategic alignment that places Washington, Riyadh and Islamabad on the same path at a critical moment for the Middle East.