US shifts strategy on Saudi nuclear deal, drops Israel

According to two sources familiar with the situation, Washington has abandoned its requirement for Saudi Arabia to establish diplomatic ties with Israel as a prerequisite for advancing discussions on civilian nuclear cooperation. This policy change comes just days before President Trump’s scheduled visit to the kingdom.

This represents a significant diplomatic pivot for the United States, which had previously insisted on Saudi-Israeli normalisation.

Saudi officials have consistently maintained their position that formal recognition of Israel depends on the establishment of a Palestinian state.

This stance created challenges for the Biden administration’s efforts to expand upon the Abraham Accords – diplomatic agreements brokered during Trump’s first presidency that saw the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco formalise relations with Israel.

The Gaza conflict has effectively frozen progress toward Saudi recognition of Israel, while nuclear discussions were separately complicated by American proliferation concerns.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright’s April visit to Saudi Arabia, during which he stated the two nations were on a “pathway” toward a civil nuclear agreement, may indicate this evolving approach.