President Donald J. Trump said Saudi Arabia must join the Abraham Accords as a condition for the U.S.–Saudi civilian nuclear energy agreement.
This demand links a critical energy infrastructure project to a major geopolitical shift in the Middle East. By tying the nuclear deal to the normalization of ties with Israel, the administration is using technological cooperation as leverage to expand the Abraham Accords.
Trump posted the statement on his Truth Social account on Thursday, July 23 [1]. The announcement comes one day after the civilian nuclear agreement was signed on Wednesday, July 22 [1]. The program is part of a 30-year accord designed to provide Saudi Arabia with a civilian nuclear program [2].
"Saudi Arabia must join the Abraham Accords to seal the nuclear deal," Trump said [1].
The president said the agreement is not guaranteed despite the recent signing. He said the nuclear agreement is totally subject to Riyadh joining the Abraham Accords and normalizing ties with Israel [3].
Trump clarified his position on the necessity of this diplomatic shift. "I will not let this nuclear deal go through unless Saudi Arabia normalizes relations with Israel," he said [4].
The Abraham Accords, which previously facilitated the normalization of relations between Israel and several Arab nations, would see a significant expansion if the kingdom of Saudi Arabia joins. The U.S. government is positioning the 30-year nuclear framework as a primary incentive for this transition [2].
“"Saudi Arabia must join the Abraham Accords to seal the nuclear deal."”
This move signals a transactional approach to Middle Eastern diplomacy, where the U.S. leverages high-stakes technology transfers to achieve regional security goals. If Saudi Arabia agrees, it would represent the most significant expansion of the Abraham Accords to date, potentially altering the balance of power in the region and strengthening the U.S.-Israel-Saudi strategic axis.
