President Donald Trump signed a multibillion-dollar nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, but told the kingdom it must join the Abraham Accords before the deal moves forward. Congress is now reviewing the agreement as Trump doubles down on expanding the Middle East peace framework that he established during his first term.
The move ties American nuclear technology and economic partnership directly to Middle East peace — a strategy that could reshape regional alliances or leave billions in trade hanging in the balance.
What the Abraham Accords Actually Do
Trump brokered the Abraham Accords in 2020, normalizing relations between Israel and several Arab nations that had refused to recognize the Jewish state for decades. The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan signed on, opening direct flights, trade agreements, and diplomatic channels that had been closed since Israel’s founding in 1948.
The accords bypassed the traditional framework that required solving the Palestinian conflict first. Instead, Arab nations gained access to American weapons systems, economic partnerships, and Israeli technology in exchange for recognizing Israel’s right to exist.
Why Saudi Arabia Changes Everything
Saudi Arabia sits at the center of the Arab world as home to Islam’s two holiest sites. The kingdom joining the accords would signal that Arab opposition to Israel has effectively ended, fundamentally altering Middle East power dynamics and isolating Iran.
For the Saudis, the nuclear deal offers a path to diversify beyond oil while projecting strength against Iranian ambitions in the region. But Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has faced domestic pressure over moving too close to Israel without gains for Palestinians.
Trump’s all-or-nothing approach forces Saudi Arabia to choose between lucrative American partnership and maintaining its historical stance on Palestinian statehood.
What Happens Next in Congress
Congress has 90 days to review the nuclear cooperation agreement under the Atomic Energy Act. Lawmakers will scrutinize whether Saudi Arabia can be trusted with American nuclear technology and whether the kingdom might develop weapons capabilities.
The Trump administration has emphasized that the Abraham Accords remain a foreign policy priority. If Saudi Arabia declines to join, the nuclear deal likely dies in Congress regardless of its technical merits.
Regional analysts now watch whether Mohammed bin Salman values American nuclear technology more than avoiding backlash from religious conservatives and Palestinian supporters within his own borders.
Key Points
- Trump signed nuclear cooperation deal with Saudi Arabia but says it requires joining Abraham Accords first
- Saudi membership would effectively end Arab opposition to Israel and isolate Iran across Middle East
- Congress has 90 days to review agreement as kingdom weighs American technology against domestic political risk
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/foreign-policy/4661525/what-are-abraham-accords-why-trump-saudi-arabia-join/ – July 23, 2026
