Is the US-Saudi nuclear deal on, or in limbo?
A US-Saudi nuclear cooperation deal is facing uncertainty after President Trump conditioned the agreement on Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel. Riyadh has not yet responded to the new demand, which complicates the 30-year energy partnership.
Why it matters
The deal is a major geopolitical pivot that links nuclear energy proliferation with Middle Eastern diplomatic normalization.
Trump’s last-minute demand for Saudi normalisation with Israel has complicated the already sensitive deal.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info US President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman speak in the White House in Washington, DC [File: AFP] By Al Jazeera Staff , AFP and The Associated Press Published On 24 Jul 2026 24 Jul 2026 The United States and Saudi Arabia have agreed a nuclear cooperation deal to establish a civilian nuclear programme in the kingdom.
This would allow Riyadh to harness nuclear power to generate electricity, allowing it to export more of its natural resources and deal with an expansion of energy-hungry data centres.
But a day later, US President Donald Trump announced a new condition on social media, saying that Saudi Arabia must first normalise relations with Israel.
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