Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA):
The United States has officially designated Saudi Arabia as a Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA), signalling a major upgrade in defence ties after Trump’s meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
- MNNA is a special U.S. strategic designation that grants close defence partners military, financial, and technological privileges—without offering formal NATO-style security guarantees.
- Created under U.S. law in the 1980s.
- Intended to strengthen America’s global alliance network outside NATO.
- Aim is To promote defence collaboration, advanced weapons access, joint training, and security coordination, is to reinforce U.S. strategic partnerships in geopolitically sensitive regions.
- Current MNNA Countries:
- 20 nations across Asia, Africa, South America, and Oceania.
- Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Morocco, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, and now Saudi Arabia.
