The US and Saudi Arabia are close to finalizing a defense pact that includes a civil nuclear component, according to a senior US official on Tuesday. While the bilateral agreement is nearly complete, obstacles remain for a broader regional deal that would normalize relations between Israel and Riyadh.
The senior official noted that the agreement is “more or less complete,” but emphasized the need for additional steps, such as a credible pathway to Palestinian statehood and measures to stabilize war-torn Gaza. “It is not done. Nobody here is going to say this is, you know, just right around the corner,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
This update follows a Middle East visit by White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, who engaged in talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The US-Saudi agreement aims to be part of a larger Middle East “grand bargain” to reshape the volatile region. This effort by President Joe Biden’s administration seeks to regain momentum after being disrupted by Hamas’ October 7 cross-border attack on Israel and the ensuing war in Gaza.
However, the deal faces significant challenges. Experts have termed it a long shot, citing Netanyahu’s reluctance to commit to an eventual Palestinian state—an outcome the US is advocating for and the Saudis have demanded.
Negotiators are working towards an accord that would include formal US defense guarantees for Saudi Arabia and access to advanced US weaponry. In return, Saudi Arabia would halt Chinese arms purchases and limit Beijing’s investments in the country.
The proposed agreement also faces potential opposition in Congress, where many lawmakers have criticized Riyadh for its intervention in Yemen, efforts to prop up oil prices, and its involvement in the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
The senior official also mentioned that the deal would encompass US civilian nuclear cooperation with Saudi Arabia, structured rigorously by nonproliferation experts.
