Trump says Saudi nuclear pact hinges on kingdom joining Abraham Accords
US President Donald Trump stated that a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia is contingent on the kingdom joining the Abraham Accords and normalising relations with Israel. Trump also clarified that the deal would not permit uranium enrichment, contradicting earlier media reports about the agreement's scope.
The United States and Saudi Arabia announced a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement described as a multi-billion-dollar partnership spanning decades, accompanied by a bilateral safeguard agreement to establish a civilian nuclear programme. However, President Trump's subsequent statement on his Truth Social platform introduced significant conditions, declaring the arrangement would only proceed if Riyadh accepted normalisation with Israel through the Abraham Accords framework.
The announcement generated immediate confusion regarding the agreement's actual provisions. Multiple US media outlets had suggested the deal would permit Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium domestically rather than importing nuclear fuel—a substantial departure from Washington's historical reluctance to share enrichment technology with nations lacking such capabilities. Trump's statement appeared to contradict these reports, asserting that no material enrichment would occur and emphasising the US position against enriched nuclear facilities.
The uranium enrichment question carries significant implications for regional stability. While enrichment remains permissible under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, to which both countries are signatories, the technology can serve dual purposes in fuel production and weapons development. Nuclear non-proliferation organisations have expressed concern that the agreement could trigger a regional arms race, particularly if enrichment capabilities were included, and might incentivise Iran to pursue nuclear weapons development.
Saudi Arabia has historically pursued civilian nuclear capacity as part of broader efforts to reduce fossil fuel dependence. The kingdom's potential acceptance of the Abraham Accords would represent a significant strategic realignment, as Riyadh has traditionally opposed normalising Israeli relations. The full details of the agreement remain undisclosed, and Saudi Arabia had not publicly responded to Trump's conditions at the time of reporting.
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