Trump says Saudi nuclear pact hinges on kingdom joining Abraham Accords | Donald Trump News
Trump Links Nuclear Deal with Saudi Arabia to Israel Relations
President Donald Trump stated Thursday that the recently announced civilian nuclear cooperation deal between the United States and Saudi Arabia hinges on the Kingdom normalizing relations with Israel as part of the Abraham Accords. His remarks raised questions about the clarity and details of the agreement, which have not been fully disclosed.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump remarked that the deal “will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords.” The comment came one day after the U.S. Department of Energy revealed that Washington and Riyadh had signed what is described as a “peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement” along with a bilateral safeguard agreement for a civilian nuclear program.
A response from Saudi Arabia regarding Trump’s assertion was not immediately forthcoming. Acceptance of normalization under the accords would mark a significant shift for Saudi Arabia, which has historically opposed such actions.
Reports suggest the agreement may permit Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium domestically rather than relying on imported nuclear fuel. This potential provision represents a departure from U.S. policy, which has resisted sharing enrichment technology with countries lacking prior access.
However, Trump denied these reports in his Thursday statement, asserting “There will be no enrichment of material!” He clarified that the U.S. does not oppose “Civil (Non-Enriched) Nuclear Facilities.”
Under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), both the U.S. and Saudi Arabia have recognized the right to uranium enrichment, which is necessary for nuclear fuel production but can also facilitate the development of nuclear weapons.
The context of Trump’s statement is further complicated by ongoing tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear enrichment, which has fueled conflict in the region and drawn the attention of U.S. and Israeli officials. Saudi Arabia has sought a civilian nuclear program as part of its strategy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
Critics of the newly announced deal have raised alarms about the potential for a nuclear arms race in the Middle East, especially if domestic enrichment is allowed. Some lawmakers argue that this could provoke Iran to pursue nuclear weapons capabilities. Concerns have also been voiced regarding Israel’s undisclosed nuclear arsenal, which has remained a subject of U.S. policy ambiguity.
In the broader context, several Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan, have signed the Abraham Accords since their inception in December 2020. However, diplomatic relations have become strained amid ongoing violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with critics arguing that the accords fail to adequately address Palestinian rights.
Trump and the administration of former President Joe Biden have both advocated for Saudi Arabia’s participation in the Accords. As details of the nuclear cooperation agreement remain unclear, experts expect further legislative scrutiny as it moves toward approval in Congress.
