Trump conditions Saudi nuclear deal on recognition of Israel, joining Abraham Accords

Former President Donald Trump has stated that a civilian nuclear energy deal between the United States and Saudi Arabia is contingent upon the Kingdom normalizing relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords. This condition was announced after the US and Saudi Arabia had signed a peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement.

Trump emphasized that the proposed nuclear agreement would be strictly for non-military purposes and would prohibit any uranium enrichment on Saudi soil, similar to existing civilian programs in other nations. This stance re-establishes a linkage between the nuclear deal and the Abraham Accords, a connection that had also been part of the Biden administration's approach to encouraging Saudi-Israeli normalization.

The nuclear pact aims to expand US technology exports and reinforce non-proliferation standards while deepening the partnership between the two countries. While the agreement had been in the works for years, Trump's latest pronouncement makes Saudi Arabia's entry into the Abraham Accords a definitive prerequisite for its approval.