Washington: In a policy shift that has unsettled officials in Israel, the United States under President Donald Trump is no longer conditioning Saudi Arabia's civil nuclear ambitions on normalization with Israel. According to Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, the move, first reported ahead of Trump's visit to Riyadh, marks a departure from the Biden administration's approach, which had linked nuclear cooperation and security guarantees to a broader regional deal involving Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts. Under Biden, Saudi nuclear talks were tied to progress on normalization with Israel, with Washington hoping Riyadh's leverage could help extract concessions from Israel toward the establishment of a Palestinian state. Trump's focus appears to be on economic deliverables, with Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman reportedly content with arms sales and a commitment to assist Saudi Arabia in case of an attack, even as normalization remains off the table until progress is made toward a Palestinian state. Mic hael Horowitz, an independent analyst based in Israel, suggested that Riyadh may have tailored its offer to Trump's interests, aiming for success in his first regional tour by securing major announcements, including Saudi investments in the United States. Trump is keen on securing major Saudi investments and ensuring US involvement in the kingdom's nuclear program, regardless of the implications for Israel or the Middle East. Horowitz noted that Trump views this as a victory, without considering potential regional consequences, particularly if Israel is perceived as difficult on issues like Gaza and Iran. Tensions between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have reportedly been mounting, with disagreements over key regional initiatives. The deal appears to be moving forward without Israeli input, presenting a significant setback for Israel. Israel has expressed concerns that the Saudi nuclear deal could bypass the "gold standard" and allow domestic uranium enrichment, which poses a strategic concern for the country. Israeli leaders have also voiced doubts about the deal passing the US Senate without Israeli involvement, but the Trump administration seems determined to proceed. Analysts warn of potential regional implications, particularly in Iran, where nuclear talks with the United States are fragile. The US has maintained that Iran should abandon enrichment, but if Saudi Arabia is allowed to enrich uranium, it could complicate negotiations with Tehran. For the Saudis, uranium enrichment holds strategic significance, presenting a potential deterrent against Iranian weaponization.
Wednesday, April 22, 2026