Trump States Saudi Recognition of Israel Key to Nuclear Agreement

Former United States President Donald Trump has asserted that Saudi Arabia must officially recognise Israel to receive assistance in developing nuclear energy. In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated, "The Civil Nuclear Deal (There will be no enrichment of material!)... which pertains only to non-military use... will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords."

However, the specifics of this condition have not been confirmed in the available documentation of the nuclear deal, which has not been publicly released. Furthermore, there has been no immediate response from Saudi authorities regarding Trump's comments. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted that Trump has addressed this requirement with Saudi leaders on several occasions, asserting, "He has said if they don't join the Abraham Accords, the deal is off. So we'll continue to have those conversations with our Saudi counterparts moving forward."

These comments come after a recent agreement announced between the US and Saudi Arabia, which has drawn criticism from various experts concerned about potential nuclear proliferation in a region already marked by instability. Mixed reactions have emerged from both Republican and Democratic legislators, although Trump's Republican Party currently maintains control of both chambers of Congress, making it unlikely that opposition to the deal would block its progression.

The agreement encompasses a "peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement" and a "bilateral safeguards agreement," as detailed by the US Department of Energy. The department stated that these two agreements collectively establish a legal framework for a long-term partnership valued in billions, targeting both economic and strategic objectives, primarily focusing on nuclear non-proliferation. A statement from the department indicated that the agreement will be submitted to Congress for further scrutiny.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed its awareness of the impending US-Saudi civil nuclear cooperation agreement and its readiness to implement verification measures. An IAEA spokesperson expressed anticipation for receiving a request concerning these verification measures and stated the agency’s commitment to collaborating with both the US and Saudi Arabia.

During Trump’s first presidential term, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain normalised relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords, a historic diplomatic effort that was the first of its kind in decades. Since then, other nations, including Sudan, Morocco, and Kazakhstan, have also signed on to these accords. However, Saudi Arabia has previously indicated that it would not embrace the accords without the prior establishment of a Palestinian state. Secret discussions exist about the importance of this condition to the US-Saudi nuclear deal.

Reactions from Israeli officials have been mixed. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office welcomed the idea of Saudi Arabia joining the accords and deemed it a significant step towards peace in the region. However, Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat remarked that while Israel could manage the presence of a Saudi nuclear energy programme, concerns remain regarding the potential military implications. Former Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman voiced apprehension, stating, "Every military nuclear program begins with a civilian one," emphasising the risks tied to nuclear development.

Israel is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons although it maintains a policy of ambiguity regarding its nuclear arsenal. The US-Saudi agreement is framed as a "peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement," which aims to facilitate access for American companies to Saudi Arabia's nuclear energy sector, according to the US energy department.

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman previously stated in a CBS News interview in 2018 that the nation does not intend to acquire nuclear weapons but issued a stark warning: "without a doubt if Iran developed a nuclear bomb, we will follow suit as soon as possible." Concerns regarding the enrichment of uranium have previously been raised, as this process can both supply fuel for power plants and potentially create materials for nuclear weapons. Trump’s comments seem to rule out this possibility, reiterating that the deal would not permit Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium on its territory.

Experts such as Rosemary Kelanic from the Defence Priorities think tank have cautioned against allowing Saudi Arabia to develop uranium enrichment facilities, stating, "The US has never done that before. We have never helped another country enrich on their own soil" due to the enhanced risks it poses in terms of nuclear proliferation.