US-Saudi nuclear deal shows the Abraham Accords is a positive incentive - analysis

A potential US-Saudi pact for civilian nuclear power is reportedly moving forward, but it has sparked concern in Israel and across the region. The deal, as reported by The New York Times, does not appear to include Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords or normalizing ties with Israel, a key point of contention.

The analysis posits that the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations, should be understood as a positive incentive. These agreements appealed to countries like the UAE and Bahrain because they offered a pathway to normalizing relations with Israel, bolstered by American backing and regional security considerations.

The author contends that the US approach has historically been more successful when it fosters mutual benefit, citing former President Donald Trump's deal-making style. Forcing Saudi Arabia to normalize ties as a condition for nuclear cooperation could be counterproductive, potentially making Riyadh feel that US policy is solely focused on Israel.

Furthermore, the piece suggests that such a stance overlooks Saudi Arabia's significant role in the Arab and Muslim world and its desire for progress on the Palestinian issue. The article concludes that past US policies linking normalization to concessions have often proven ineffective, leading to stubbornness rather than flexibility.