White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed today that the nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia is contingent upon the kingdom joining the Abraham Accords, a condition publicly reiterated by former President Donald Trump earlier in the day.
Condition Announced After Deal
When questioned why this condition was not disclosed when the deal was first announced on Wednesday, Leavitt stated that the requirement has been mentioned by Trump on numerous occasions in the past. She emphasized that if Saudi Arabia does not join the accords, 'the deal is off.'
Impact on Middle East Diplomacy
The demand ties a major nuclear energy partnership to normalization of relations with Israel, a key foreign policy goal. The Abraham Accords, brokered during the Trump administration, have seen several Arab states establish diplomatic ties with Israel. Saudi Arabia's participation would be a significant expansion of the accords.
