Politics · India Bureau
Trump administration submits Saudi nuclear pact to Congress for review
The United States has formally submitted a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia to Congress, as required by law. However, the Trump administration has made clear the deal hinges on Riyadh normalising relations with Israel.
LSN India ·
The classified agreement was transmitted to Capitol Hill on Monday in compliance with the Atomic Energy Act, according to officials and congressional aides familiar with the submission. The pact, signed last month by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, aims to support the kingdom's development of civilian nuclear capabilities.
President Trump has made advancement of the accord contingent on Saudi Arabia accepting the terms of the Abraham Accords normalisation framework with Israel. This condition, announced the day after the agreement was signed, has injected uncertainty into what was presented as a bilateral energy cooperation initiative.
The timing of the congressional submission marks a critical juncture for the nuclear pact. While the Trump administration has signalled its commitment to the agreement in principle, observers noted that the Israeli normalisation requirement represents a significant diplomatic hurdle that could complicate ratification.
The agreement represents part of broader US efforts to strengthen energy partnerships in the Middle East while simultaneously advancing Middle Eastern diplomatic realignment. Analysts will be watching closely to assess whether Saudi Arabia moves toward accepting the administration's conditions.