Between Nuclear and Normalization: The US-Saudi Agreement

The US president approved a historic agreement granting Saudi Arabia a civilian nuclear program with uranium enrichment on its soil and without strict oversight. The deal is conditional on Saudi joining the Abraham Accords, but the specific requirements remain unclear. Michal Yaari from Ben-Gurion University analyzes the agreement's implications for Saudi containment policy toward Iran and its impact on normalization with Israel.

The US president approved a historic agreement with Saudi Arabia, granting it a civilian nuclear program including uranium enrichment on its soil, without strict oversight mechanisms. The deal is conditional on Saudi joining the Abraham Accords, but it is unclear what steps are required. Michal Yaari from Ben-Gurion University explains that the agreement reflects a shift in Saudi containment policy toward Iran, which failed in the war. According to her, until October 7 there was progress toward normalization, but the war brought the Palestinian issue back to the center; now Saudi sees it as a regional stability interest. The agreement raises questions about nuclear oversight and its implications for the Middle East.

Between Nuclear and Normalization: The US-Saudi Agreement