US and Saudi Arabia Agree on Nuclear Cooperation Deal
RIYADH – The United States and Saudi Arabia have reached a nuclear cooperation agreement. The announcement was made by the administration of US President Donald Trump, amid efforts by Washington and Riyadh to strengthen their ties.
The US Department of Energy on Wednesday welcomed the agreement as a “historic” step, stating that American companies would provide nuclear technology to the kingdom.
The agreement comprises a pact under Section 123 of the 1954 Atomic Energy Act—known as a “123 agreement”—along with “an accompanying bilateral safeguarding agreement”, according to the department’s statement.
“These agreements reflect the shared commitment of both nations to strengthen US-Saudi commercial ties, deliver prosperity at home, and security for our partners abroad,” said Energy Secretary Chris Wright in a statement.
“Rest assured, these agreements uphold the highest standards of nuclear safety and non-proliferation, while drawing on the world’s finest nuclear technology and scientists, designed right here in the United States.”
Several US media reports indicate that the deal would allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium domestically, rather than import nuclear fuel from the United States. The Department of Energy’s statement did not elaborate on the enrichment issue.
If those reports prove accurate, the agreement is highly likely to face opposition in Washington.
The statement described the deal as “a multi-billion-dollar partnership that will span decades” and said it would now be submitted to Congress for review.
In February, Trump, together with Israel, launched efforts to pressure Iran to prevent it from enriching uranium and acquiring nuclear weapons—an aim Tehran denies.
The United States and Israel also bombed Iranian nuclear facilities last year.
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) does not prohibit uranium enrichment—a process of separating and gathering the most radioactive variant or isotope of uranium atoms. However, highly enriched uranium can be used to produce nuclear weapons.
Israel is the only country in the region believed to possess nuclear weapons.
The Trump administration said the agreement with Saudi Arabia would create jobs in the United States, “strengthen global non-proliferation standards”, and reinforce the strategic partnership with Riyadh.
The announcement comes amid the continuing escalation of conflict between the US-Israel and Iran. During the hostilities, Iran has launched missiles and drones targeting bases where US forces are stationed in the region, as well as several energy facilities in the Gulf area.