The visits of the Saudi crown price and the Syrian president to the White House resulted in large investment deals and new defense announcements. Mona Yacoubian and former ambassador to Saudi Arabia Michael Ratney join Will to discuss how successful the visits really were, what failed to materialize, and what surprises emerged. 

• Michael Ratney, “A Crown Prince with a New Set of Priorities,” New York Times, November 17, 2025. 
• Mona Yacoubian and Michael Ratney, “MBS in Washington: What’s Next for U.S.-Saudi Relations?” CSIS, November 6, 2025.