A new nuclear cooperation agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia has triggered concern in Israel, with political leaders and former security officials warning it could ignite a regional arms race and undermine Israel’s long-term security.
The deal, announced on Wednesday, would allow Saudi Arabia to build civilian nuclear reactors using U.S. technology while also enriching uranium domestically. Although presented as part of Riyadh’s civilian energy ambitions, the agreement still requires approval from the U.S. Congress.
Israeli Leaders Warn of Nuclear Risks
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government have not publicly commented on the agreement, but opposition figures quickly criticized the move.
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett called the agreement a “serious strategic failure” that bypasses Israel and threatens regional stability.
Stay ahead of the geopolitical week.
MD Briefing delivers expert analysis across five global fronts — the Indo-Pacific, energy, geoeconomics, European security, and the Middle East — every Monday morning. Free.
“The nuclear agreement that is coming together with Saudi Arabia, over Israel’s head, is a serious strategic failure that endangers our security,” Bennett said.
He warned that allowing uranium enrichment on Saudi soil could trigger a broader nuclear race across the Middle East.
Former Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman echoed those concerns, arguing that a civilian nuclear programme could eventually evolve into a military one.
“The civilian nuclear program in Saudi Arabia will end in nuclear weapons and will lead to a crazy arms race throughout the entire Middle East,” Lieberman said.
He urged Israel to lobby members of the U.S. Congress to block the agreement.
Long Running Nuclear Negotiations
Talks over a U.S.-Saudi civil nuclear agreement have been underway for years under both President Donald Trump’s first administration and former President Joe Biden’s administration.
Previous negotiations failed partly because of concerns from nuclear non-proliferation experts, who warned that allowing Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium could provide the kingdom with a pathway toward developing nuclear weapons if it chose to do so in the future.
Normalization Link Missing
Many Israeli officials had hoped any nuclear agreement would be tied to a broader normalization deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia, similar to the framework discussed during the Biden administration.
Former Defence Minister Benny Gantz said the agreement should have been part of a wider regional security arrangement.
“There is no security official who would say that introducing civilian nuclear capability into Saudi Arabia without integrating the move as part of building a moderate regional alliance is a step that is good for Israel’s security,” Gantz said.
Regional Security Concerns Grow
Israel is widely believed to possess the Middle East’s only nuclear arsenal, although it has never officially confirmed or denied having nuclear weapons.
Critics of the U.S.-Saudi agreement argue that permitting uranium enrichment inside Saudi Arabia could encourage other regional powers to pursue similar nuclear capabilities, potentially increasing proliferation risks and reshaping the Middle East’s strategic balance.
Supporters of the agreement, however, say it is intended solely to help Saudi Arabia develop civilian nuclear energy under U.S. oversight and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Congress must still approve the deal before it can take effect.
With information from Reuters.
