Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed strong opposition to Saudi Arabia acquiring nuclear weapons, emphasizing caution regarding its planned nuclear program. In an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu praised former President Donald Trump for linking Saudi Arabia's nuclear program to the normalization of relations with Israel, which has been a priority for Netanyahu. He stated, "I stress civilian because the last thing we want, and I’m sure the last thing the president wants, is a military program, nuclear program, in Saudi Arabia."
Israel is widely believed to be the only country in the Middle East with nuclear weapons and has sought to maintain this status as a foreign policy priority. Netanyahu indicated that he views the proposal for Saudi Arabia's nuclear program as a distinct possibility, referencing past achievements such as the Abraham Accords.
On July 26, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright signed a multibillion-dollar peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Minister of Energy Abdulaziz bin Salman. Both nations described the agreement as a significant advancement in energy security and technological capabilities. However, Trump later clarified that the nuclear deal would be contingent upon Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel. Netanyahu also mentioned ongoing intelligence sharing regarding Iran's nuclear program, stating that he would continue to collaborate with Trump on this matter.