US President Donald Trump stated that Washington will not implement a civilian nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia until the kingdom agrees to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel. According to the head of the White House, the implementation of the atomic project is entirely dependent on Riyadh joining the Abraham Accords.
Normalization Condition
This position was officially confirmed by White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt. She emphasized that the requirement to establish diplomatic ties with Israel is fully consistent with the preliminary statements of the US President. Thus, the nuclear deal turns into a tool of geopolitical pressure to expand the circle of countries recognizing Israel.
Essence of the Signed Document
Shortly before these statements, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman signed an agreement on civilian nuclear cooperation. The document paves the way for the development of Saudi atomic energy using American technologies.
However, the entry into force of the agreement is not automatic. It must undergo a mandatory 90-day review by the US Congress, as well as provide for a two-year technical and economic study of the project.
Security and Uranium Enrichment Issues
One of the most controversial aspects has been Saudi Arabia's uranium enrichment capabilities. Trump assured that the program would be exclusively peaceful and would not provide for the creation of materials for nuclear weapons. Nevertheless, experts point out that certain provisions of the agreement cause concern due to potential risks to the nuclear non-proliferation regime.
Recall that on July 23, Donald Trump approved a nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia for a term of 30 years. It provides for permission to enrich uranium only for civilian purposes. Such a step causes concern for a number of countries, in particular Israel, and also meets with criticism within the US.
Difficulties in the Middle East
Normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel remains an extremely complex issue. Riyadh has repeatedly stated that it is not ready for such a step without significant progress in the creation of a Palestinian state. After the war between Israel and HAMAS and the escalation of the situation in the Middle East, the prospects for such a scenario have become even more uncertain.
The Abraham Accords are agreements on the normalization of relations between Israel and Arab countries, concluded with US mediation in 2020. Within the framework of these agreements, diplomatic relations with Israel were established by the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. Washington considers the possible accession of Saudi Arabia as one of the most important steps to expand this process.
