The Trump administration has signed a nuclear cooperation deal with Saudi Arabia that abandons a long-standing US requirement that Riyadh normalise relations with Israel before receiving American nuclear technology. The agreement marks a further departure from the traditional US approach to the Middle East, which had centred on Israel and a two-state solution, and instead reflects President Trump's more transactional, economically-driven foreign policy. Analysts say it signals that Washington wants to retain influence with regional allies, even at the risk of angering Israel, rather than lose them to competitors such as China.

Unlike a 2009 US-UAE nuclear pact, which included strict International Atomic Energy Agency inspections, the Saudi deal reportedly lacks robust enforcement measures and would allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium on its own soil, raising concerns among critics about a potential regional nuclear arms race. The agreement is seen as a major win for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has long sought closer nuclear ties with the West and previously said Saudi Arabia would pursue nuclear weapons if Iran did. Experts say the deal could also help Saudi Arabia diversify its energy sector and reduce reliance on oil, while potentially laying the groundwork for a future weapons capability even without an immediate rush to develop one.