The expected announcement of a U.S. agreement with Saudi Arabia to develop a civilian nuclear program has raised Israeli concerns that it could lead to a regional arms race, and underscored how the U.S. is charting its own path in the region, independent of Israel.
The agreement, first reported on Tuesday, could enable Saudi Arabia to enrich its own fuel for nuclear reactors. It took many by surprise in Israel, which has a secretive nuclear weapons program, as well as a publicly acknowledged nuclear research reactor.
While Saudi Arabia has long lobbied for access to U.S. nuclear technology, the Biden administration had conditioned that in part on Riyadh agreeing to open diplomatic relations with Israel, one of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s central goals.
Instead, President Trump is now forging a deal with Saudi Arabia that appears to sidestep Israel entirely. Analysts say it could also embolden other countries — like Turkey, which has been increasingly at odds with Israel — to develop their own nuclear enrichment programs.
Israeli opposition figures and former officials said it was the latest sign of how their country’s stature in Washington had eroded. Mr. Netanyahu lobbied Mr. Trump hard to launch a war together against Iran, which has been unpopular in the United States. Mr. Trump has called Mr. Netanyahu “crazy” for his aggressive pursuit of the related war in Lebanon against Iran’s ally, Hezbollah.
The president cut the Israeli leader out of talks with Iran to end the war that began in late February. He also persuaded Mr. Netanyahu to curb retaliation for a major Iranian attack last month, fearing it could derail peace talks.
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