Trump Reiterates Saudi-Israel Normalisation as Key Condition for Civil Nuclear Deal

Washington, July 2026 : The White House has reaffirmed that US President Donald Trump expects Saudi Arabia to normalise diplomatic relations with Israel and formally join the Abraham Accords as a central condition for advancing a proposed civil nuclear cooperation agreement with the Kingdom. The statement underscores the administration’s determination to link strategic nuclear cooperation with a broader vision of stability and diplomatic realignment in the Middle East.

Speaking to reporters outside the White House ahead of the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said President Trump has consistently communicated his expectations to Saudi leaders over several years, dating back to his first term in office.

“The President has been very clear with Saudi Arabia, not only during this term but going back many years, regarding his expectations, timelines and commitments on the normalisation of relations with Israel and Saudi Arabia’s participation in the Abraham Accords,” Miller said.

His remarks came amid questions over why the White House separately highlighted the normalisation requirement after Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced progress on a proposed civil nuclear agreement with Riyadh.

Without directly addressing the timing of the announcements, Miller stressed that Trump possesses an unparalleled understanding of Saudi Arabia’s leadership and long-term strategic priorities.

“The President, better than any American alive, understands the psychology of the Kingdom, the key decision-makers and what that relationship looks like,” Miller remarked.

Highlighting Trump’s longstanding engagement with Saudi Arabia, Miller recalled the President’s landmark 2017 speech in Riyadh, describing it as a turning point in strengthening the Kingdom’s regional role.

He credited Trump with encouraging Saudi Arabia to emerge as a major pillar of regional stability and a leading force against violent extremism in the Middle East.

“When you look at where Saudi Arabia stands today, much of that evolution began with the Riyadh speech in 2017. President Trump worked closely with the Kingdom to strengthen its role as a bulwark against terrorism and as one of the foremost anchors of stability in the region,” Miller said.

He added that Trump’s deep understanding of Saudi Arabia’s strategic outlook gives the administration confidence that the proposed approach will ultimately deliver a historic diplomatic breakthrough.

“We should trust that the President knows exactly what to do and how to achieve what could become another watershed moment for the Middle East,” Miller added.

The proposed civil nuclear agreement has emerged as one of the most closely watched initiatives of the Trump administration’s Middle East policy. Earlier this week, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that any agreement would permit only peaceful civilian nuclear cooperation, prohibit uranium enrichment by Saudi Arabia, and remain contingent upon Riyadh joining the Abraham Accords.

Saudi Arabia has previously maintained that any formal normalisation with Israel would depend on meaningful progress toward the establishment of a Palestinian state. The White House has not indicated that Riyadh has accepted the new condition, though officials confirmed that discussions with Saudi leaders remain ongoing.

Beyond the Middle East, Miller also commented on political developments in Latin America, criticising Nicaragua after President Daniel Ortega’s government moved to eliminate competitive elections.

He argued that socialist and communist governments often use democratic elections to gain power before restricting political freedoms, describing Nicaragua as an example of that trend.

Miller also highlighted Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s diplomatic efforts in the region, saying the administration’s broader “Shield of the Americas” strategy reflects a significant geopolitical realignment across the Western Hemisphere.

According to him, several countries in Latin America are increasingly aligning with Washington’s security and economic agenda under President Trump’s leadership.

On domestic issues, Miller declined to discuss ongoing legislative negotiations surrounding the SAVE America Act but reiterated that President Trump expects the legislation to be passed.

He also confirmed his attendance at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, expressing appreciation for the Secret Service and law enforcement agencies responsible for ensuring security during the event.

The Abraham Accords, brokered during Trump’s first term, led to the normalisation of diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan. Bringing Saudi Arabia into the framework is widely viewed by Washington as the most significant potential expansion of the landmark agreements and a key objective of the administration’s broader Middle East strategy.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)