Trump submits Saudi nuclear deal to Congress and links pact to ties with Israel

In a move linked to its relations with Israel, US President Donald Trump has submitted a nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia to Congress. This agreement, reached in July, would allow US firms to export civilian nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia, deepening the US-Saudi partnership. However, the pact will only come into effect if Saudi Arabia agrees to establish official ties with Israel, as demanded by the President.

This condition marks a shift from the administration's previous stance that the two deals could proceed independently.

The Nuclear deal, negotiated during Trump's first term, was submitted to Congress under the 1954 Atomic Energy Act by the Department of Energy. Congress has 90 legislative days to review the agreement. If Congress does not reject it within this period, the pact will take effect. However, if Congress rejects the agreement, President Trump could veto the resolution.

For the veto to be overridden, Congress would need to pass it by a two-thirds majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, a feat that appears challenging given the narrow Republican majorities in both chambers.