The Saudi nuclear deal Trump didn't seem ready to announce - opinion

The article examines the chaotic rollout of a US-Saudi nuclear agreement, where Energy Secretary Chris Wright signed a 30-year deal without Trump's apparent knowledge, omitting key provisions requiring Saudi normalization with Israel and adherence to the Abraham Accords. The deal allows Saudi enrichment of uranium, raising proliferation concerns and potentially igniting a regional arms race. Israel feels sidelined, and questions arise about Trump family financial interests and the strategic versus transactional nature of the deal.

The article analyzes the fumbled rollout of a US-Saudi nuclear agreement, where Energy Secretary Chris Wright signed a 30-year deal potentially worth tens of billions without Trump's prior knowledge. The deal omitted key provisions that two presidents had insisted upon: linking the agreement to Saudi normalization with Israel and adherence to the Abraham Accords. The Saudis rejected both conditions, insisting on a Palestinian statehood path. The agreement also grants Saudi Arabia unprecedented authority to enrich uranium and reprocess spent fuel, raising fears of a regional arms race, especially given Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's stated intent to match any Iranian nuclear capability. Israel feels sidelined, and questions arise about the Trump family's financial interests in Saudi Arabia, including Jared Kushner's $2 billion investment from the Saudi sovereign wealth fund. Congress has 90 days to review the deal.