Trump and MBS Discuss Key Issues, No Resolutions Found
President Donald Trump’s recent meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) at the White House addressed several important topics, yet left many unresolved. Notably, Trump expressed interest in having Saudi Arabia join the Abraham Accords, while MBS is looking into the possibility of obtaining U.S. nuclear technology.
After their discussions, MBS described the conversation about the Abraham Accords as “healthy,” noting that Trump felt it was a “good discussion.” However, it seems there was no real shift in Saudi Arabia’s stance.
MBS stated, “We want to be part of the Abraham Accords, but we also need a clear path to a two-state solution.” He added that they are committed to ensuring the right conditions are met as quickly as possible. In his words, “We want peace for Israelis. We want peace for Palestinians. We hope for a future where both can coexist peacefully in this region.”
On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained a firm position against granting statehood to Palestinians, especially following recent hostilities. The current political climate suggests that he may struggle to maintain his government if he shifts from the two-state framework that MBS referenced.
Last weekend, the Israeli government faced a political crisis that arose from the U.S. military’s actions. Netanyahu expressed clear opposition to any Palestinian state, asserting his intention to demilitarize Gaza and disarm Hamas, regardless of the challenges that may come with that approach.
So far, four nations—UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan—have signed the Abraham Accords. Despite MBS’s supportive remarks, Saudi Arabia appears in no rush to join this list. The Trump administration had also hoped for Syria’s participation under President Ahmed al-Shallah, but that has not yet materialized.
Interestingly, an economist noted the durability of the Abraham Accords, highlighting that despite tensions during the Gaza War, none of the participating countries withdrew. MBS understands that signing the Accords would come with significant commitments, and there are strong sentiments in Saudi Arabia regarding its potential membership, which hinges on addressing Palestinian statehood.
Trump, meanwhile, was rather noncommittal when discussing Saudi Arabia’s long-standing interest in U.S. nuclear technology. When asked if such an agreement could happen, he responded, “I could see it happening. It’s not an emergency.” This viewpoint may diverge from the urgency that Saudi Arabia feels, as they’ve been pursuing a nuclear deal since the Obama era, with repeated promises from various U.S. administrations that have yet to come to fruition.
Saudi Arabia is keen on developing civilian nuclear power with the support of U.S. companies. They are also interested in uranium for sale, which the U.S. wants to enrich.
Traditionally, a U.S.-Saudi nuclear agreement would likely involve Saudi Arabia agreeing not to enrich its uranium or reprocess spent nuclear fuel, similar to the commitments made by the UAE when they signed their agreement. However, should Saudi Arabia decide to partner with countries like Russia or China for nuclear power, there could be no guarantees against enrichment, which is critical for transitioning to nuclear weapons.
This nuclear deal, long sought after by both the Biden and Trump administrations, is closely tied to the discussions surrounding the Abraham Accords. Saudi Arabia’s demand for normalization with Israel in exchange for nuclear technology remains on the table, yet they will hold off until there’s satisfactory recognition of Palestinian statehood.
