• The US and Saudi Arabia signed a landmark nuclear cooperation deal, intended to establish a civilian nuclear programme in Saudi Arabia.
• President Trump added new conditions, stating Saudi Arabia must first normalise relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords.
• The nuclear deal is expected to last 30 years and involves Saudi Arabia acquiring uranium enrichment capabilities, raising concerns about potential nuclear proliferation.

The United States and Saudi Arabia have recently finalized a landmark nuclear cooperation agreement aimed at establishing a civilian nuclear programme in the kingdom. This deal enables Riyadh to harness nuclear energy to generate electricity for its growing needs and to potentially export more of its oil resources. However, immediately following the announcement, President Donald Trump complicated the agreement by insisting on a condition that Saudi Arabia must first normalise relations with Israel, which Riyadh has long maintained needs to occur alongside progress toward Palestinian statehood, according to Al Jazeera and India Times.

Under the new agreement, which the Trump administration framed as a US-Saudi partnership, Riyadh is expected to gain the capability to enrich uranium domestically, a move that raises alarm regarding nuclear proliferation. Critics argue that this step could blur the lines between peaceful nuclear energy and the potential for developing nuclear weapons, especially in the context of regional tensions with Iran. Trump's declaration against enrichment in subsequent statements suggests significant uncertainty regarding the true nature of the deal, according to Vox and Al Jazeera.

In addition to enriching uranium, the deal is poised to involve substantial American investment in building nuclear infrastructure in Saudi Arabia over the next 30 years, which presents dual challenges: mitigating proliferation risks while also fostering economic ties. Nonproliferation experts express increasing concerns that permitting uranium enrichment could support latent weapons development ambitions, regardless of Saudi Arabia's stated intentions of peaceful nuclear energy. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has hinted that the kingdom may pursue nuclear weapons if Iran does so, heightening fears of an arms race in a volatile region, reflects India Times and Vox.

President Trump's insistence on linking the nuclear deal to Saudi Arabia’s commitment to the Abraham Accords has created a complicated diplomatic scenario. As Saudi Arabia is expected to refuse to establish formal relations with Israel without a clear path for Palestinian statehood, the future of the nuclear deal remains uncertain. Trump stated, “It’s time now that they do it,” yet this notion directly contravenes longstanding Saudi policy, according to Al Jazeera.

As the agreement moves toward Congress for review, numerous hurdles remain. The dissonance between Trump’s statements and the details shared by US officials raises questions not only about the sustainability of the nuclear deal but also its implications for Middle Eastern geopolitics and nonproliferation norms. The complex interplay of regional rivalries and nuclear aspirations further complicates efforts for a stable balance of power, echoing sentiments articulated by nonproliferation scholars, according to Vox and Al Jazeera.