United States President Donald Trump has said Saudi Arabia must formally recognise Israel before a landmark civilian nuclear agreement between Washington and Riyadh can take effect.
In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump said approval of the agreement is tied to Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords, the US-backed initiative aimed at normalising relations between Israel and Arab states.
“The Civil Nuclear Deal, which involves no enrichment of nuclear material and is strictly for peaceful purposes, will be approved, but it is completely dependent on Saudi Arabia joining the respected and successful Abraham Accords,” Trump wrote.
His comments come just a day after the United States announced the civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, a deal expected to strengthen energy ties between the two countries and create billions of dollars in opportunities for American companies.
The agreement has already attracted criticism from non-proliferation experts, who argue that expanding nuclear technology in the Middle East could increase long-term security risks, despite assurances that the programme is intended solely for civilian use.
The issue of nuclear technology has remained highly sensitive following months of conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, with Tehran’s nuclear programme continuing to dominate regional tensions.
Trump first brokered the Abraham Accords in 2020, leading to the normalisation of diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Morocco and Sudan later joined the agreement.
Saudi Arabia has not recognised Israel, although successive US administrations have sought to bring the kingdom into the accord as part of broader efforts to reshape alliances in the Middle East.
Trump’s latest remarks suggest that any final implementation of the US-Saudi nuclear agreement will depend not only on congressional review but also on Riyadh taking the politically sensitive step of establishing formal ties with Israel.
