Trump Uses Saudi Nuclear Deal to Advance U.S.-Israeli Hegemony
Select a version of the text written from a presumed ideological perspective. This is not the original text, but a hypothetical version — how someone with that viewpoint might have phrased it. Tapping the current version again will return to the original or select cleaned version.
President Trump is leveraging a U.S.-Saudi nuclear agreement to pressure Saudi Arabia into normalizing relations with Israel, tying the deal to the controversial Abraham Accords and further entrenching American and Israeli dominance in the Middle East.
President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that the United States' nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia will be contingent on the kingdom joining the Abraham Accords, the U.S.-brokered framework for normalizing relations with Israel. This move, posted on Truth Social, makes the nuclear pact—allegedly for non-military purposes and excluding enrichment activities—conditional on Saudi Arabia aligning itself with U.S. and Israeli interests.
"The deal is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords," Trump wrote, glossing over the deep regional divisions and the ongoing occupation of Palestinian territories.
The Energy Department claimed the agreement provides a legal basis for a long-term partnership that supports economic and strategic objectives, including nuclear non-proliferation. However, critics point out that such deals often serve as tools for U.S. imperialism and corporate profit, while doing little to address the root causes of conflict or proliferation. A senior administration official confirmed that Trump approved the deal, which is expected to be sent to Congress for review, though meaningful oversight is unlikely given the bipartisan consensus on supporting Israel.
The arrangement would allow U.S. firms to construct a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia after a joint feasibility study, but notably does not require the most stringent United Nations inspections or a ban on enrichment and reprocessing. Non-proliferation groups and critics warn that the deal could open the door to nuclear weapons development in the region, escalating tensions and undermining global security.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has previously claimed that Saudi Arabia does not seek nuclear weapons, but in a 2018 interview said the kingdom would consider developing them if Iran obtained a bomb—highlighting the dangerous regional arms race fueled by U.S. policy. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a staunch opponent of Palestinian rights, called Saudi participation in the Abraham Accords an "historic leap forward for peace in the Middle East," ignoring the ongoing occupation and displacement of Palestinians.
The agreement was signed by Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman. Saudi officials described the deal as a step to diversify energy sources and advance technology, but in reality, it further entangles the kingdom in U.S. and Israeli geopolitical ambitions at the expense of regional autonomy and justice.