President Trump adds condition of Abraham Accords normalization to U.S.-Saudi civilian nuclear cooperation agreement
The administration announced a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, allowing the kingdom to develop a non-military nuclear program to generate electricity and diversify its energy sources. The deal, which provides American companies priority access to reactors and fuel, was expected to last 30 years. However, President Trump shifted the status of the agreement on Thursday by stating that Saudi Arabia must first normalize relations with Israel as part of the Abraham Accords. This new condition surprised negotiators and left the deal in a state of diplomatic suspension, as Saudi Arabia has long insisted on a pathway to Palestinian statehood before formalizing ties with Israel. While the Energy Department emphasized that the deal promotes lasting peace through commerce, some experts expressed concern over provisions allowing Saudi Arabia to enrich its own uranium. The agreement must now be submitted to Congress for review. The move has drawn mixed reactions, with Israeli leaders expressing both optimism for regional peace and concern over a potential nuclear arms race.