Trump's nuclear deal with Saudis jettisons longstanding US demands

Trump's nuclear deal with Saudis jettisons longstanding US demandsImage source, EPAByDaniel BushWashingtonPublished2 minutes agoThe Trump administration's nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia reversed a yearslong stance toward a key Middle East ally.Past US presidents insisted that Saudi Arabia normalise relations with Israel in exchange for receiving American nuclear technology for civilian energy programmes. President Donald Trump gave Saudi Arabia what it wanted without extracting concessions for Israel in return - and over objections from critics who argued that it could spark a nuclear arms race in the region.The deal was the latest example of Trump jettisoning the traditional American approach to the Middle East, which centred on Israel and finding a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.In his second term Trump has focused primarily on strengthening America's economic influence to compete with China and other rivals. Analysts said the nuclear pact with Saudi Arabia sent a signal that the US wants to keep regional allies in the fold even if it means angering Israel in the process."Countries in the Middle East want to develop their nuclear infrastructure and they're going to do it even if the US is not involved. Washington at this point is recognising that," said Yusuf Can, a Middle East expert at consulting firm Amena Strategies. With this nuclear deal, he added, "the US is basically saying you don't have to work with China. You can work with us".US signs landmark nuclear deal with Saudi ArabiaPublished1 hour agoTankers make sharp U-turns after Houthi shipping threatPublished20 hours agoTransactional foreign policy has been a hallmark of Trump's second term. The US has ratcheted up economic competition with adversaries like China and Russia in the Arctic and other parts of the world since Trump returned to office vowing to revive his "America First" approach to global affairs.But signi...