Former US President Donald Trump has suggested that any future nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia must be tied to the kingdom formally recognizing Israel. This condition reflects the ongoing influence of the Abraham Accords, a series of diplomatic agreements brokered during Trump’s first term that facilitated the normalization of relations between Israel and several Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Since then, Sudan, Morocco, and Kazakhstan have also joined the accords.
Saudi Arabia has historically maintained that it will not normalize relations with Israel without the prior establishment of a Palestinian state. The prospect of the kingdom joining the accords was met with enthusiasm by Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office posting on X that such a move would represent an "historic leap forward for peace in the Middle East."
The discussion surrounding nuclear capabilities comes amid heightened regional tensions, particularly regarding Iran, which has long denied Western accusations that it seeks to develop nuclear weapons. While Israel is widely believed to possess nuclear arms, it maintains a policy of neither confirming nor denying their existence. Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, stated in a 2018 interview with CBS News that his country does not plan to acquire a nuclear weapon but warned that if Iran were to develop one, Saudi Arabia would follow suit as soon as possible.
Experts have expressed caution regarding the potential transfer of nuclear technology. Rosemary Kelanic, director of the Middle East programme at the Defense Priorities think tank, noted that it would be "quite shocking" for the US to permit Saudi Arabia to operate its own uranium enrichment facilities. She explained that the United States has never assisted another nation in enriching uranium on its own soil, as doing so would increase the risk of nuclear weapons development. The proposed agreement is expected to be submitted to the US Congress for formal review.
