Trump submits Saudi civil nuclear agreement to Congress with Israel normalization condition

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President Donald Trump submitted a proposed civil nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia to Congress on August 24 for review during a 90-session-day window. The deal, reached in July, facilitates the export of U.S. civilian nuclear technology, specifically for the construction of AP1000 reactors, by companies such as Westinghouse. A U.S. administration official stated that the agreement will only move forward if Saudi Arabia joins the Abraham Accords and normalizes relations with Israel. This condition remains in place despite the shifting diplomatic landscape following the October 2023 start of the war in Gaza and Saudi Arabia's requirement for an irreversible path to a Palestinian state.

Consequences

The agreement faces a mandatory 90-session-day review period by Congress before it can proceed. Its ultimate implementation depends on whether Saudi Arabia accepts the normalization of relations with Israel as a prerequisite, a move currently complicated by the ongoing war in Gaza.

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