Trump attaches Israel normalisation to Saudi nuclear deal
The United States and Saudi Arabia signed an initial nuclear pact on Wednesday, but President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that Riyadh must join the Abraham Accords for the deal to proceed.
United States President Donald Trump has declared that a civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia is contingent on Riyadh joining the Abraham Accords and normalising diplomatic ties with Israel. The announcement, made via social media on Thursday, follows the signing of an initial deal between the two nations on Wednesday, introducing a significant political hurdle to what the Trump administration had previously described as a purely commercial and security-focused partnership.
When questioned on Friday regarding whether the US Department of Energy had proceeded without his prior approval, Trump stated that “nobody got out ahead.” He clarified that while he did not explicitly discuss the Abraham Accords condition with Energy Secretary Chris Wright before the signing, the requirement was “always understood” by all parties, including Saudi officials. “I just say that in order to do it, they have to be a member of the Abraham Accords, which have been very successful,” Trump said, adding, “But it’s time now that they do it.”
The initial framing of the agreement by the Trump administration emphasised economic and strategic benefits without reference to Israel. Energy Secretary Wright described the pact as a “decades-long, multibillion-dollar partnership” reflecting a shared commitment to strengthening US-Saudi commercial relations and delivering security to allies. The Saudi Ministry of Energy similarly stated the agreement bolsters efforts to diversify energy sources and advance cutting-edge technologies in the mutual interests of both nations.
Contradicting earlier reports suggesting the deal would permit domestic uranium enrichment, Trump asserted on Thursday that there “will be no enrichment of material.” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio supported this position, insisting the deal would not lead to nuclear proliferation. Rubio noted that US contractors, including Westinghouse, would handle the project, allowing Washington to maintain oversight. The agreement is expected to last 30 years and involves the transfer of US technology and expertise to the kingdom.
Saudi Arabia has not yet responded to the latest condition, maintaining its longstanding position that formal relations with Israel require a clear path to Palestinian statehood—a stance opposed by Israel’s current government. The full text of the nuclear cooperation deal has not been released, leaving specific provisions unknown. The agreement is now set to be submitted to Congress for review.
