Trump's nuclear deal with Saudis jettisons longstanding US demands

What the report says

BBC World News reports that the Trump administration has signed a nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia that drops a condition previous US presidents had sought: Saudi normalisation of relations with Israel in exchange for access to American civilian nuclear technology. The agreement, announced during President Donald Trump’s second term, is described as a major shift from a US Middle East policy long centred on Israel and on efforts toward an Israeli-Palestinian settlement.

According to the BBC, the administration has not immediately released full details of the pact. The report says critics are concerned that the agreement may not include the kind of strict limits and inspection measures found in a 2009 US nuclear deal with the United Arab Emirates, and that it reportedly permits Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium domestically. Analysts cited by the BBC said the move reflects Washington’s desire to keep Gulf partners aligned with the United States rather than China, as regional governments pursue nuclear energy infrastructure.

The deal is politically significant for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has sought US nuclear cooperation for years. It could support Saudi plans to diversify energy sources and reduce long-term dependence on oil, though experts noted that building nuclear power plants would likely take many years. The BBC also reports that US companies, including reactor manufacturers, could benefit from future Saudi projects.

The agreement has drawn criticism from Israeli politicians and Democratic lawmakers in the United States, who warned it could encourage a regional nuclear arms race or complicate tensions with Iran. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright defended the pact as beneficial for the US economy and national security, and said it would maintain strong nuclear safety and nonproliferation standards.