US-Saudi nuclear deal makes no mention of normalization with Israel
The Trump administration is preparing to submit a nuclear energy pact with Saudi Arabia to Congress that excludes normalization with Israel and lacks strict non-proliferation safeguards. The agreement aims to facilitate civil nuclear cooperation between the two nations.
Why it matters
The absence of the 'Gold Standard' safeguards and the decoupling from Israel normalization represent a significant shift in US Middle East nuclear policy.
The Trump administration plans to submit to Congress a pact with Saudi Arabia to share nuclear power technology that does not include a plan for normalization with Israel or safeguards the US has long said would stop materials from being used in nuclear weapons programs, the New York Times reported on Tuesday.The long-discussed US-Saudi nuclear pact was once envisioned as one part of a broad deal that could lead to recognition of Israel, but Saudi Arabia pulled back from the possibility during the Israel-Hamas war.The administration is set to submit to Congress within days a document known as a 123 Agreement that will be signed by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi energy minister Abdulaziz bin Salman, two sources told Reuters.The two signed a preliminary agreement in Riyadh last year.The White House and US Department of Energy did not immediately respond to requests for comment.The agreement refers to Section…
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