- President Trump has sent Congress a proposed agreement with Saudi Arabia on civil nuclear energy while insisting the pact will only be approved if the kingdom normalizes relations with Israel, a U.S. administration official told Reuters on Tuesday.
- The agreement, which was reached in July and would allow U.S. companies to export civilian nuclear technology to the kingdom, was sent to Congress on Monday, according to the U.S. official.
- The 30-year nuclear deal calls for the construction of AP1000 reactors, a project worth tens of billions of dollars that would benefit Westinghouse.
- "The president's position has not changed that the agreement will only move forward if Saudi Arabia joins the Abraham Accords," the U.S. official said.
- Days after agreeing to the Saudi nuclear deal in July, Trump insisted on normalization with Israel as a condition for it to go into effect.
- Former President Joe Biden also pushed for a nuclear deal and wanted to tie it to the accords.
- Diplomats thought Riyadh was close to normalizing relations with Israel in 2023, but the start of Israel's war on Gaza in October 2023 changed the landscape.
- Saudi Arabia has demanded an irreversible path to a Palestinian state before recognizing Israel.
President Donald Trump has submitted a landmark nuclear accord with Saudi Arabia to Congress, which includes the construction of AP1000 reactors worth tens of billions of dollars. The agreement, reached in July, allows U.S. companies to export civilian nuclear technology to the kingdom.23
However, the deal is contingent upon Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel. An administration official stated, "The president's position has not changed that the agreement will only move forward if Saudi Arabia joins the Abraham Accords." These accords, established between Israel and several Arab nations, aim to foster diplomatic relations in the region.4
Despite initial optimism for normalization in 2023, the recent escalation of conflict in Gaza has complicated the situation. Saudi Arabia has insisted on an irreversible path to a Palestinian state as a prerequisite for recognizing Israel.8
The proposed nuclear deal is expected to ignite extensive debate among lawmakers regarding its implications for the American nuclear industry and the potential risks of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East. Former President Joe Biden also advocated for a nuclear agreement tied to the Abraham Accords, highlighting the ongoing significance of this diplomatic issue.6
As the situation evolves, the future of the nuclear deal remains uncertain, with both economic and geopolitical ramifications at stake.
“The 30-year deal would allow U.S. companies to export civilian nuclear technology and benefit Westinghouse, jointly owned by Cameco and Brookfield. Lawmakers are expected to debate boosting the American nuclear industry while curbing weapons proliferation in the Middle East.”
WSJ
