In a sharp departure from the very policy he once championed, President Donald Trump has quietly removed a key requirement in U.S.-Saudi nuclear negotiations: normalization with Israel. According to a bombshell Reuters report citing sources close to the talks, the Trump administration is no longer insisting that Saudi Arabia recognize the Jewish state as a precondition for advancing civil nuclear cooperation — a move that could signal a troubling shift in the region’s diplomatic balance. The reversal comes just days before Trump is set to visit Riyadh, where he’s expected to finalize a series of high-stakes agreements with the kingdom. The change not only marks a major U.S. concession but also raises eyebrows, given Trump’s long-standing assertion that he is “the most pro-Israel president in history.” Under the Biden administration, nuclear cooperation with Riyadh was carefully tied to a broader package that included a U.S.-Saudi defense pact and Saudi recognition of Israel — part of an effort to expand on Trump’s own Abraham Accords. But those talks sputtered amid rising Arab anger over the Gaza war and Saudi insistence that no normalization would occur without a path to Palestinian statehood. Trump’s new posture suggests a pragmatic — or some would say cynical — shift. By decoupling the nuclear talks from Israeli recognition, Trump appears to be prioritizing strategic deals and economic gains over diplomatic solidarity with Jerusalem. “When we have something to announce, you’ll hear it from the President,” said National Security Council spokesperson James Hewitt, offering little clarity. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has hinted at creative solutions to satisfy non-proliferation safeguards, including a potential “black box” uranium enrichment arrangement — but sources say a final agreement remains distant. Saudi Arabia has resisted a standard Section 123 agreement, which would restrict enrichment and reprocessing, both seen as potential paths to nuclear weaponization. The kingdom’s energy ambitions, economic diversification goals, and regional rivalries — especially with Iran — make the stakes enormous. Compounding Israeli unease, Vice President JD Vance told Reuters that talks with Iran are progressing and could lead to Tehran’s reintegration into the global economy — another red flag for Jerusalem. Meanwhile, Trump is pressing for massive Saudi investments in the U.S., reportedly urging Riyadh to raise its commitment from $600 billion to a staggering $1 trillion. A multibillion-dollar U.S. arms package is also on the table. This marks Trump’s second foreign trip since returning to the Oval Office — and though it recalls his lavish 2017 visit to Riyadh, the policy signals emanating from this journey may be far more ominous for Israel. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)