The Trump administration has approved a landmark civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, opening the way for American companies to support the kingdom’s nuclear energy programme and potentially help develop its uranium resources.
The proposed 30-year agreement, negotiated under Section 123 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act, will now be sent to Congress for review. If approved, it would allow U.S. firms to participate in building Saudi Arabia’s civilian nuclear infrastructure, including nuclear power reactors and related technology.
A key feature of the deal is that it does not bar Saudi Arabia from enriching uranium on its own soil. Previous U.S. administrations had pushed Riyadh to accept stricter non-proliferation conditions, similar to those accepted by the United Arab Emirates in 2009, under which Abu Dhabi agreed not to enrich uranium or reprocess spent nuclear fuel.
Safeguards Raise Non-Proliferation Concerns
According to officials familiar with the negotiations, the agreement follows a joint U.S.-Saudi study that found the kingdom has commercially viable uranium reserves. Any future enrichment activities are expected to remain under U.S. oversight and be limited to civilian purposes.
The absence of stronger safeguards has, however, drawn criticism from lawmakers and non-proliferation experts. The agreement reportedly does not require Saudi Arabia to adopt the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Additional Protocol, which permits more extensive inspections of nuclear facilities. Critics argue this could weaken efforts to prevent the spread of sensitive nuclear technology.
Saudi Arabia has long maintained that its nuclear programme is intended to diversify its energy mix and reduce dependence on oil. At the same time, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has previously stated that if Iran were to develop a nuclear weapon, Saudi Arabia would seek one as well, raising concerns among regional security experts.
Congressional Review Ahead
The agreement marks a shift from the approach taken by the Biden administration, which had linked nuclear cooperation with Saudi Arabia to a broader regional package that included the normalisation of ties between Riyadh and Israel.
The pact will now undergo a 90-day congressional review. Although lawmakers can vote to reject the agreement, blocking it would require sufficient support to override a presidential veto, making that outcome unlikely.
(With inputs from Agencies)
