US President Donald Trump has introduced a new condition for the planned civil nuclear cooperation with Saudi Arabia. Trump announced that for the agreement to take effect, Saudi Arabia must join the Abraham Accords, which normalize diplomatic relations with Israel.
This statement came after US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at developing the country’s first commercial nuclear reactors. The signed agreement was expected to be submitted to the US Congress for approval.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said, “They have to be a member of the Abraham Accords for this to happen.” The president noted that he had not specifically discussed the issue with Wright before the signing, but that the condition was known and understood by both sides.
Saudi officials have not yet responded to requests for comment on the new condition attached to the nuclear deal. Riyadh had previously expressed reluctance to join the Abraham Accords, stating it would not recognize Israel without an irreversible path to a Palestinian state.
Trump, however, remained confident that a deal would eventually be reached. “At some point they will join... And they will do their civilian nukes,” he said.
A nuclear agreement between the US and Saudi Arabia is considered a positive development for Westinghouse, which is jointly owned by Cameco and Brookfield Asset Management.