Saudi Arabia has abandoned its pursuit of an ambitious defence treaty with the US in return for normalizing relations with Israel and is now pushing for a more modest military cooperation agreement. Riyadh wants Israel to first commit to Palestinian statehood. Saudi Arabia and the US hope a more modest defense pact could be sealed before President Joe Biden leaves the White House in January. The pact now under discussion would involve expanding joint military exercises and drills to address regional threats, mainly from Iran. It would foster partnerships between US and Saudi defense firms, with safeguards to prevent collaboration with China.