U.S. President Donald Trump says a landmark civilian nuclear agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia will only proceed if the Gulf kingdom agrees to normalise diplomatic relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords, adding a major political condition to one of Washington’s most significant strategic agreements in the Middle East in recent years.
Trump said during a White House briefing on Thursday Saudi Arabia’s participation in the U.S.-backed civilian nuclear program is “totally subject” to the kingdom establishing formal diplomatic ties with Israel. Normalisation is a critical part of broader regional stability and a key goal of his administration’s Middle East policy, the president said.
The declaration comes after the signing of a 30-year civilian nuclear cooperation pact between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia that would allow American companies to help the kingdom build out its nuclear energy infrastructure. The arrangement aims to diversify the kingdom’s energy mix while boosting U.S. influence in the area amid rising rivalry with China and Russia.
But Trump’s comments seem to add a diplomatic condition that has clouded the outlook for the accord. Saudi Arabia has repeatedly stressed it will not normalise ties with Israel unless there is real progress towards the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has long conditioned any future recognition of Israel on a credible path to Palestinian statehood, a position that has differed from that of the current Israeli government.
The nuclear portions of the draft accord are also coming under examination. Unlike earlier U.S. nuclear cooperation agreements with some allies, the Saudi deal apparently does not require Riyadh to accept the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Additional Protocol, which gives inspectors more ability to track nuclear activity. But the administration has maintained that the program is strictly civilian, and non-proliferation experts and a handful of lawmakers have warned that the lack of tougher safeguards could raise concerns about future nuclear weapons risks.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Energy Secretary Chris Wright have championed the deal, arguing that it is better to work with the United States than let competing powers lead Saudi Arabia’s nuclear development. Administration officials also said U.S. control and technology will guarantee higher safety and security requirements than other agreements.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the possibility of Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords, saying further Arab-Israeli normalisation is a crucial step towards regional stability. But he didn’t address Trump’s new condition directly or the facts of the nuclear deal.
Analysts say the suggestion is particularly sensitive given high tensions in the Middle East following the current U.S.-Iran dispute, Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and persistent instability around Gaza. They agree that the main obstacle to any breakthrough is the Palestinian issue, but acknowledge that sealing Saudi-Israeli normalisation could dramatically shift the regional balance of power.
The deal is now up for legislative assessment in Washington, where lawmakers are anticipated to scrutinise both its nuclear safety and its geopolitical consequences. The Trump administration is seeking to get the deal over the line before the president leaves office, but the road ahead is far from clear with non-proliferation advocates opposed and the future of Saudi-Israeli normalisation uncertain.
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