Jakarta, ThedailyID — US President Donald Trump is reportedly using a civilian nuclear agreement to pressure Saudi Arabia into normalizing relations with Israel.
A US government official told Reuters that Trump has sent a draft nuclear agreement with Riyadh to the US Congress. However, the deal would only move forward if Saudi Arabia joins the Abraham Accords, the official said.
“The president’s position has not changed, that the deal will only proceed if Saudi Arabia joins the Abraham Accords,” the official said, Wednesday (26/08).
The United States and Saudi Arabia reached a landmark agreement on July 23 to develop a civilian nuclear program. Trump has said the agreement is strictly for non-military purposes and depends on Saudi participation in the Abraham Accords.
The Abraham Accords were launched during Trump’s first presidency to normalize relations between Israel and several Arab and Muslim-majority countries. Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Sudan have joined the agreements.
It remains unclear how Trump plans to use the nuclear agreement to advance normalization with Israel. Congress has 90 days to review the deal.
Democratic lawmakers and nuclear nonproliferation advocates have criticized the agreement because it does not prohibit Saudi Arabia from enriching uranium or reprocessing nuclear waste, both of which could potentially be used to develop nuclear weapons.
Saudi Arabia has previously indicated that it would only recognize Israel if a Palestinian state is established. Prospects for normalization had advanced under former President Joe Biden but deteriorated after Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
