Washington, D.C.: U.S. President Donald Trump has renewed his call for Saudi Arabia to establish diplomatic relations with Israel, saying “it’s time” for the Kingdom to join the Abraham Accords as part of broader efforts to promote stability and cooperation in the Middle East. His remarks came as the administration defended a newly signed U.S.-Saudi civilian nuclear cooperation agreement.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said Saudi Arabia’s participation in the Abraham Accords would be a key requirement for moving forward with the nuclear agreement. He expressed confidence that Riyadh would eventually normalize relations with Israel, describing such a step as beneficial for regional peace and security.
The U.S. administration recently announced a civilian nuclear cooperation deal with Saudi Arabia aimed at supporting the Kingdom’s peaceful nuclear energy ambitions. However, Trump later clarified that the agreement would only proceed if Saudi Arabia formally joins the Abraham Accords and establishes diplomatic ties with Israel.
Saudi Arabia has so far maintained that it will not normalize relations with Israel without meaningful progress toward the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Saudi officials have consistently reiterated that any agreement with Israel must include an irreversible pathway toward Palestinian statehood, a position that remains unchanged despite ongoing U.S. efforts.
The Abraham Accords, brokered during Trump’s first administration, led to the normalization of relations between Israel and several Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. Washington has long viewed Saudi Arabia’s participation as a major diplomatic objective that could significantly reshape regional politics.
Political analysts say Trump’s latest remarks are likely to intensify diplomatic discussions involving Washington, Riyadh, and Tel Aviv. While the United States sees normalization as a cornerstone of its Middle East strategy, Saudi Arabia continues to link any such move to progress on the Palestinian issue, leaving the timing of a potential agreement uncertain.
