President Donald Trump announced that the nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia will require the kingdom to normalize ties with Israel and will not allow Riyadh to have a domestic enrichment program.
“The Civil Nuclear Deal (There will be no enrichment of material!) being made between the United States Department of Energy and Saudi Arabia, which pertains only to non-military use such as the ones that Iran and UAE (and others) already have, will be approved,” the President posted on Truth Social Thursday. “But [it] is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords.”
The Washington Post reported on Wednesday that the White House is prepared to ink a nuclear agreement with Riyadh. The deal will allow for US companies to build nuclear reactors in Saudi Arabia; Westinghouse will receive the initial contract.
It was initially reported that the nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia is a significantly modified 1-2-3 Agreement that did not include a requirement to normalize ties with Israel. The US has signed the 1-2-3 Agreement with dozens of nations, which gives technology to build civilian nuclear energy programs while placing strict limitations to prevent the weaponization of the nuclear program.
The 30-year deal with Saudi Arabia includes limited international inspections and a pathway for Riyadh to develop a domestic enrichment program. The agreement may be an effort by the White House to appease Riyadh and keep Saudi Arabia within the US orbit amid the war against Iran. Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf Arab states have suffered substantially from the war that President Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu started.
Congress can derail the nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia; however, it will require veto-proof majorities in both houses
