Nuclear Deal Predicated on Saudi-Israeli Relations
President Donald Trump has intensified the diplomatic dynamics associated with his administration’s recent civilian nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia. He emphasized that the deal’s final approval hinges on Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump reiterated that while the nuclear energy agreement has been in discussion for decades, it remains “fully amenable to Saudi Arabia joining the highly respected and successful Abraham Accords.”
He aimed to ease concerns among lawmakers and regional partners about potential nuclear proliferation, asserting that the deal focuses on non-military facilities that “will not enrich materials.”
This unexpected social media announcement shifted the framework of an agreement signed a day earlier between U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Arabia’s Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman.
“The civil nuclear agreement (no enrichment of material!) with Saudi Arabia pertains solely to non-military uses, similar to arrangements made with Iran and the UAE. It is anticipated to be approved but is wholly conditional on Saudi Arabia’s participation in the successful Abraham Accords,” Trump stated.
The agreement was aimed at helping Saudi Arabia build its domestic nuclear energy capability, initially without specifying the need for Israeli approval.
However, this absence reportedly raised alarms in Washington and within the Israeli government. Sources indicated that officials were apprehensive about offering sensitive technical support to Gulf states without significant diplomatic concessions or strict nonproliferation measures.
White House press secretary Caroline Levitt affirmed the president’s stance shortly after the post. She mentioned that without Saudi Arabia’s agreement to the Abraham Accords, the deal would not proceed.
Saudi Arabia insists that any formal normalization with Israel must come with progress toward establishing an “independent Palestinian state,” a complex foreign policy issue given that 89% to 93% of the Saudi population is Muslim. While expatriates can practice various religions, Saudi citizens are legally bound to Islam.
There were hopes that a significant agreement could be finalized by the end of 2023, but the emergence of conflict in Gaza has complicated negotiations. Analysts suggest that public sentiment in Saudi Arabia has become increasingly resistant to normalization without substantial concessions for Gazans.
Israeli officials have welcomed Trump’s demands, viewing Saudi Arabia’s potential entry into the Abraham Accords as a major advancement for peace in the Middle East. Yet, there’s uncertainty about whether Riyadh will accept these conditions or seek out other international partners for its civilian energy projects.
The nuclear agreement is now set to undergo a mandatory 90-day review in Parliament, with legislators anticipating discussions surrounding non-proliferation safeguards and the practicality of linking nuclear development to wider regional diplomatic efforts.
