The United States and Saudi Arabia are reportedly negotiating a standalone security agreement, separate from any broader deal involving Israel, Axios reported, citing three sources familiar with the discussions.

This potential agreement, while not a full defense treaty, is being sought by both Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) and the White House, with hopes to finalize it before President Joe Biden's term concludes in January.

Last week, Saudi national security adviser Musaad bin Mohammed al-Aiban traveled to Washington, where he held meetings with U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, as well as with senior Biden advisers Brett McGurk and Amos Hochstein. Al-Aiban also met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the sources said. Their talks focused on strengthening U.S.-Saudi bilateral ties, including security, technology, and economic agreements they aim to establish before Biden leaves office.

One source emphasized that the security agreement under discussion is separate from previous efforts to secure a “mega-deal” that would normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Instead, this deal would resemble recent agreements the Biden administration has signed with Gulf nations, which have bolstered U.S. influence in the region. For example, Biden designated Qatar as a major non-NATO ally in March 2022, followed by a comprehensive security agreement with Bahrain in September 2023, and a similar designation for the UAE as a Major Defense Partner.

"Saudi Arabia is part of that and likely to also have something," the source added.

Prior to the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, U.S. officials were negotiating a potential “mega-deal” with both Saudi Arabia and Israel. That agreement was envisioned to include Saudi-Israeli normalization, a U.S.-Saudi defense pact, and civilian nuclear cooperation, with hopes that Senate ratification might be achievable if tied to a broader peace accord. 

However, the escalation in Gaza and Lebanon has halted these broader negotiations as Saudi Arabia’s heightened demand for a Palestinian state in the wake of the ongoing conflict has made a wide-ranging deal with Israel and the U.S. unviable for now.