Saudi Arabia Splits the Israel Link: Nuclear Deal With Washington Tests Trump’s Middle East Strategy

Riyadh wants US nuclear technology and deeper security ties without surrendering its biggest diplomatic card — normalization with Israel. Gaza, Iran and China are reshaping the bargain and giving Mohammed bin Salman greater room to tell Washington where American influence ends. For years, Washington pursued what could have been one of the most consequential diplomatic bargains in the Middle East: the United States would deepen its security relationship with Saudi Arabia and help the kingdom develop a civilian nuclear industry. In return, Riyadh would normalize relations with Israel. That grand bargain is beginning to come apart into separate pieces. US-Saudi…