The U.S. Department of Energy announced on Wednesday that the United States and Saudi Arabia have signed a peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated that the deal establishes a legal framework for American companies to participate in the Saudi Arabian civilian nuclear energy program. The agreement, which includes a bilateral safeguards component, has been sent to Congress for a review period.
While specific text has not been released, reports indicate the deal may allow for a joint study to determine if Saudi Arabia can enrich uranium on its own soil using U.S.-built facilities. Under these reported terms, if the U.S. eventually objects to local enrichment after the study, Saudi Arabia would be restricted from pursuing it independently or with other partners for 10 years. This differs from previous U.S. agreements, such as a 2009 deal with the United Arab Emirates, which prohibited domestic enrichment.
The agreement has drawn concern from some nuclear experts and former Israeli officials, who suggested the infrastructure could potentially be repurposed for weaponization. In 2018, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stated that Saudi Arabia does not seek nuclear weapons but would pursue them if Iran developed a nuclear bomb. The U.S. government maintains that the deal upholds high nonproliferation standards and strengthens regional security.
The deal reportedly does not require Saudi Arabia to formally recognize Israel as a condition of the partnership. Supporters of the agreement in the Trump administration stated it will foster a multi-billion-dollar economic partnership and advance U.S. interests in civil nuclear technology. Members of Congress from both parties are expected to examine the deal's implications for regional stability and nonproliferation.