Trump Says Saudi Recognition of Israel Is a Condition for Nuclear Cooperation
U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that any agreement allowing Saudi Arabia to develop a civilian nuclear energy program with U.S. support will require Riyadh to formally recognize the State of Israel.
According to Trump, the condition is that Saudi Arabia join the Abraham Accords the U.S.-brokered normalization framework between Israel and several Arab states. He said he would be prepared to finalize and sign the nuclear cooperation agreement once Saudi Arabia agrees to establish official diplomatic relations with Israel.
Saudi Arabia has long sought U.S. assistance to develop a civilian nuclear energy industry as part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 strategy, which aims to diversify the kingdom’s economy and reduce its dependence on oil. The proposed cooperation would involve U.S. approval, technology, and oversight for Saudi nuclear development.
The issue has become one of the most significant diplomatic bargaining points in U.S.-Saudi relations. While Riyadh has consistently expressed interest in expanding its nuclear energy capabilities, it has also maintained that normalization with Israel remains linked to broader regional considerations, including progress toward a Palestinian state.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is seeking to establish Saudi Arabia’s first nuclear power infrastructure before 2030 as part of the kingdom’s long-term modernization plans. Trump’s remarks suggest that Washington intends to tie any future nuclear partnership to a landmark diplomatic breakthrough between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
If such an agreement is reached, it would represent one of the most consequential geopolitical developments in the Middle East, reshaping regional alliances and expanding the Abraham Accords while opening the door to U.S.-Saudi nuclear cooperation.