Trump says Saudi Arabia could not stop US from using airports

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia would have been unable to prevent American forces from using the kingdom's airports for military operations against Iran, referencing recent conversations with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Speaking at a news conference during the G7 summit in Evian, France, Trump addressed the issue in the context of the recent US-Iran conflict and a new memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran.

"We're using their airports, not that they could stop us if we didn't want them to," he added. The comments came as the administration continues to navigate complex regional alliances. Diplomatic channels with Tehran remain open following the recent memorandum of understanding.

Saudi relations and regional context

Trump described multiple conversations with the Saudi leadership regarding the arrangements. "I spoke to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia a number of times. They're all so happy that they're still ... you have to have them happy too, you know?" he said, referring to the delicate balance of maintaining Gulf partnerships during military operations. The president did not elaborate on the specific nature of the discussions.

The remarks come amid ongoing tensions in the region as Washington maintains military readiness against Iran while simultaneously pursuing the recently signed memorandum of understanding with Tehran. Saudi Arabia has long hosted US military assets, though Riyadh has publicly sought to distance itself from direct involvement in the conflict.