President Trump states Saudi Arabia must normalize ties with Israel to secure a civil nuclear deal.
President Trump clarified that Saudi Arabia must join the Abraham Accords and normalize relations with Israel before the civil nuclear deal is finalized. This condition was added after the Trump administration initially announced the nuclear cooperation agreement on Wednesday, which establishes a civilian nuclear program for the kingdom. President Trump noted that while the US Department of Energy moved forward with the announcement, the requirement for Israel normalization was always understood by all parties. The agreement, which is expected to be a30-year partnership, will transfer US technology and expertise to Saudi Arabia. However, President Trump specified that there will be no domestic enrichment of material by the kingdom. The Trump administration described the community as a multibillion-dollar partnership aimed at strengthening commercial relations and security. While Saudi Arabia has long sought a clear path for Palestinian statehood before formalizing ties with Israel, the Trump administration maintains that thes agreement will be submitted to Congress for review.