President Donald Trump announced that the new “peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement” between the United States and Saudi Arabia, signed on Wednesday, hinges on the Saudis joining the Abraham Accords.
“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, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
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Saudi Arabia has not yet signed the Abraham Accords, which were brokered by Trump in his first term to establish diplomatic relations between Israel and several surrounding Arab nations. Trump has bolstered the agreement during the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, encouraging countries to sign on to the agreement as the nations broker a peace to the war. The United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Sudan, Bahrain, and Kazakhstan have each signed the agreement with Israel.
Trump also clarified in the Truth Social posting that the nuclear deal with the Saudis does not allow for the enrichment of nuclear material.
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“The United States is not opposed to Civil (Non-Enriched) Nuclear Facilities,” Trump added.
The nuclear agreement signed between the Saudis and the U.S. on Thursday was touted by the nations’ officials as an agreement to bolster shared economic and strategic objectives between the two countries. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said it would “uphold high standards of nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation, and strengthen Washington’s competitive edge in civil nuclear technology.”
“These agreements reflect our two nations’ shared commitment to strengthening U.S.-Saudi commercial relations, delivering prosperity at home and security to our allies abroad,” Wright said in a statement.
The Department of Energy said the agreement will supply American companies with access to the Saudi nuclear energy program, expanding U.S. industry exports and creating more American jobs in the industry.
The U.S.-Saudi agreement has created angst among some Israeli politicians who worry about uranium enrichment and nuclear proliferation in the Middle East. Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who is challenging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in this year’s election, slammed the agreement, saying the deal shows that “Israel is losing its ability to influence its own fate.”
“The nuclear deal taking shape with Saudi Arabia over Israel’s head is a grave strategic failure that endangers our security,” Bennett said in a statement. “Allowing uranium enrichment on Saudi soil could trigger a regional nuclear arms race and lead to a highly dangerous loss of control.”
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Trump’s clarifying statement that there would be “no enrichment of material” combines with the Energy Department’s reassurance that the deal will “reinforce global nonproliferation standards.”
The deal was sent to Congress on Wednesday for review.
