US President Donald Trump said a civil nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia would depend on the kingdom normalizing relations with Israel. By linking the proposed pact to diplomatic recognition, Trump tied a major energy and security issue to one of the most sensitive questions in Middle East politics.
The demand centers on the Abraham Accords, the US-backed framework aimed at expanding ties between Israel and Arab states. Trump’s position suggests that any Saudi nuclear arrangement would be part of a wider regional deal rather than a standalone agreement focused only on civilian nuclear cooperation.
That condition could complicate or even derail the proposed US-Saudi accord. The report says Trump’s administration had finalized the landmark deal just a day earlier, making his latest requirement a significant shift that could raise fresh uncertainty around the agreement.
The move highlights how closely Washington is tying strategic partnerships in the Gulf to broader diplomatic goals involving Israel. Whether Saudi Arabia is willing to accept that linkage now appears central to the future of any civil nuclear deal with the United States.
