Donald Trump wants Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords, and he is using a major civil nuclear agreement as leverage to make it happen. Just one day after signing a pact allowing U.S. companies to build nuclear infrastructure in the kingdom, the White House threw a massive curveball.
The deal is now completely contingent on Riyadh establishing formal diplomatic relations with Israel. It is a high-stakes gamble. It immediately complicates a multi-billion dollar energy arrangement and drags regional geopolitics back to center stage.
The Nuclear Pact Versus The Diplomatic Reality
Let's look at what actually happened. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia inked a civil nuclear agreement. It was designed to let American firms provide nuclear energy technology to the kingdom. Non-proliferation experts immediately raised red flags about potential uranium enrichment provisions on Saudi soil.
Then came the pivot. Less than 24 hours after the ink dried, Trump declared on social media and in subsequent press statements that the agreement will not take effect unless Riyadh signs onto the Abraham Accords.
The demand mirrors a strategy previously pursued by the Biden administration. Tie high-value American concessions—like advanced technology or security guarantees—to a historic normalization deal with Israel. But Trump's execution caught everyone off guard because the initial text of the energy pact made zero mention of Israel.
Why Saudi Arabia Keeps Hesitating
You cannot understand this dynamic without looking at Riyadh's core red line. Saudi leadership has insisted repeatedly that normalising ties with Israel requires an irreversible path toward a Palestinian state.
The current Israeli government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has explicitly ruled out Palestinian statehood. That leaves a massive chasm between what Washington and Jerusalem want and what Riyadh is willing to accept publicly.
Trump insists that Saudi Arabia will join the accords "at some point," claiming that a weakened Iran makes the kingdom more secure and more willing to deal. Yet, Saudi officials have never based their reluctance solely on fears of Iranian retaliation. The Palestinian issue remains a deeply sensitive domestic and regional stumbling block that a simple nuclear agreement cannot instantly erase.
What Happens Next In Washington And Riyadh
The agreement now heads to the United States Congress, where lawmakers hold the power to review major foreign nuclear pacts. Passing it will require navigating deep skepticism from non-proliferation watchdogs who worry about fueling a regional arms race.
Meanwhile, Riyadh has stayed mostly quiet regarding Trump's sudden ultimatum. Administration officials claim the condition was always understood behind closed doors, but translating private understandings into public diplomatic victories is entirely different.
If Trump wants this grand bargain to succeed, bridging the gap between Israeli policy on Palestine and Saudi demands will take far more than a press conference in the Oval Office. Watch how Congress responds to the text, and keep an eye on whether Riyadh decides to blink first on the nuclear conditions or holds firm on its regional principles.
