Trump Administration Sends Saudi Nuclear Deal to Congress, Ties Approval to Israel Normalization

The Trump administration has formally submitted a proposed civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia to Congress, signaling a significant step in U.S.-Saudi energy relations. However, the deal's advancement is explicitly tied to Saudi Arabia's commitment to normalizing relations with Israel, a condition set by President Donald Trump.

The agreement, signed by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman last month, would enable American companies to play a key role in developing Saudi Arabia's civilian nuclear program. This pact is intended to last for 30 years and facilitate the use of U.S. technology, including AP1000 reactors, in building Saudi nuclear infrastructure.

Under the U.S. Atomic Energy Act, Congress has a 90-day review period. If lawmakers do not pass a joint resolution to reject it, the pact can take effect without a further vote. This submission follows President Trump's earlier statements linking the nuclear deal's approval to Saudi Arabia's participation in the Abraham Accords, the U.S.-brokered framework for normalizing ties between Israel and Arab nations.

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the agreement would only take effect if Saudi Arabia joins the Abraham Accords, the US-brokered framework for normalising relations between Israel and Arab and Muslim-majority countries.

Despite the administration's push, the agreement faces scrutiny from some Democratic lawmakers and non-proliferation advocates. Concerns have been raised regarding the pact's provisions on uranium enrichment and nuclear waste reprocessing, which critics argue could potentially pave the way for nuclear weapons development. This contrasts with the more restrictive "gold standard" accepted by the United Arab Emirates in its nuclear agreement with the U.S.

The condition linking the nuclear deal to Saudi-Israel normalization presents a potential hurdle. Saudi Arabia has consistently maintained that it would only establish diplomatic relations with Israel if a clear and irreversible path toward Palestinian statehood is established, a stance that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected on security grounds.

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the civil nuclear deal would be approved but was “totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords”.