RIYADH: Trump has announced that Saudi Arabia must normalize relations with Israel before the United States approves a long-discussed civilian nuclear agreement. The statement places the proposed deal at the center of ongoing diplomatic efforts in the Middle East.
US President Donald Trump said the civilian nuclear agreement would move forward only if Saudi Arabia officially joins the Abraham Accords. He stressed that the proposed program would be limited to peaceful purposes and would not allow uranium enrichment.
According to Trump, the agreement between the US Department of Energy and Saudi Arabia would follow the model of other civilian nuclear arrangements. He said similar agreements already exist with countries including the United Arab Emirates and Iran for peaceful nuclear activities.
The US president emphasized that the facilities under the proposed agreement would be used only for civilian purposes. He said the program would not support military activities or weapons development.
The announcement connects one of Saudi Arabia’s major national goals with Washington’s broader regional strategy. Expanding the Abraham Accords has remained a key foreign policy objective for the United States in the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia has long viewed civilian nuclear technology as an important part of its Vision 2030 economic diversification plan. The Kingdom aims to reduce its dependence on oil while expanding alternative energy sources to meet future demand.
At the same time, Saudi officials consider nuclear technology important for regional security. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has previously stated that if Iran develops a nuclear weapon, Saudi Arabia would seek similar capabilities to maintain strategic balance.
These concerns have made any future nuclear cooperation agreement highly significant for the region. Analysts believe such a deal could influence the broader security environment across the Middle East.
Despite increasing unofficial cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Israel in recent years, Riyadh has maintained its position on diplomatic normalization. Saudi officials continue to say that full diplomatic ties depend on meaningful progress toward the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
The Kingdom has repeatedly supported a two-state solution, with East Jerusalem serving as the capital of a future Palestinian state. Saudi Arabia has also sought additional assurances regarding Israeli policies in the occupied West Bank before considering formal normalization.
Diplomatic discussions have suggested that future progress may also depend on political developments inside Israel. However, no final agreement has been reached on these issues.
Trump‘s latest remarks have now tied the proposed civilian nuclear agreement directly to these broader diplomatic negotiations. The statement highlights how nuclear cooperation, regional security, relations with Israel, concerns over Iran, and the Palestinian issue have become closely connected.
Observers believe the announcement could shape future negotiations between Washington and Riyadh. Any progress on the civilian nuclear agreement is now likely to depend on wider diplomatic developments in the region.
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The proposed agreement remains under discussion, and both countries have yet to announce any final timeline for its completion. For now, Trump has made clear that normalization with Israel remains a key condition for advancing the US-Saudi civilian nuclear partnership.
