Trump ties US-Saudi nuclear deal to normalisation with Israel

New condition for nuclear cooperation

Former US President Donald Trump has thrown a wrench into the long-negotiated civilian nuclear deal between Washington and Riyadh. In a statement on Wednesday, Trump said the agreement should be contingent on Saudi Arabia formally recognising Israel. The demand, made without prior consultation with Saudi officials, has left diplomats scrambling to assess its impact.

The deal, which would allow the United States to help Saudi Arabia build its first nuclear power plants, has been in the works for years. It is seen as a cornerstone of the Biden administration's broader Middle East strategy. Trump's intervention threatens to upend that timeline.

Why Saudi Arabia wants nuclear power

Saudi Arabia has long argued it needs nuclear energy to reduce its dependence on oil. The kingdom burns vast amounts of crude to generate electricity, a practice it says is unsustainable. A civilian nuclear programme would free up more oil for export and help meet the country's growing power demand, which rises sharply during scorching summers.

There is also a strategic dimension. Saudi leaders want the prestige and technological know-how that comes with nuclear energy. They have repeatedly said they will not accept any deal that limits their right to enrich uranium, a sensitive capability that could also be used to make weapons. That issue has been a major sticking point in talks with the US.

Trump's demand and the Israel factor

Trump's statement explicitly links the nuclear deal to the Abraham Accords, the normalisation agreements his administration brokered between Israel and several Arab nations. Saudi Arabia, the most powerful Arab state, has so far refused to join. The kingdom's official position is that normalisation will only come after a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is achieved.

“Saudi Arabia has trillions of dollars in oil wealth. They want nuclear power. That's fine, but they must recognise Israel first,” Trump said in a press interaction. The former president did not elaborate on how or when this condition would be enforced. His comments have no official standing, but they signal a potential shift in Republican policy if he returns to office.

The Biden administration has not publicly endorsed Trump's condition. US officials have said they are focused on finalising a deal that includes robust non-proliferation safeguards. However, the political calculus in Washington means any agreement must eventually pass scrutiny in a deeply divided Congress, where support for Israel is a bipartisan pillar.

Reactions and next steps

Saudi officials have not yet issued a formal response to Trump's remarks. Analysts say the demand puts Riyadh in a difficult position. Accepting it would anger domestic and regional opinion, which remains strongly pro-Palestinian. Rejecting it could kill the nuclear deal and further strain ties with Washington.

The kingdom has other options. It has explored nuclear cooperation with China, Russia, and South Korea. Any of those would be a strategic blow to the United States, which views the Saudi partnership as vital for countering Iranian influence in the region.

For now, the nuclear deal is in limbo. Technical discussions continue at lower levels, but the political uncertainty created by Trump's intervention has stalled progress. What happens next depends on whether the Biden administration can negotiate a compromise, or whether Riyadh decides to look elsewhere for its nuclear future.