WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump has formally approved a landmark agreement with Saudi Arabia that will provide the kingdom with a civilian nuclear program and could potentially open the door to uranium enrichment on Saudi soil, according to U.S. officials cited by The Wall Street Journal.
The 30-year deal, estimated to be worth tens of billions of dollars, is designed to give American companies a central role in developing Saudi Arabia’s nuclear infrastructure while excluding other foreign competitors. Under the agreement, U.S. firms could be responsible for building uranium enrichment facilities in the kingdom following a joint U.S.-Saudi study.
The Trump administration plans to submit the pact to Congress in the coming days in the form of a “123 Agreement” — a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement required under U.S. law. The document has already been signed by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman, who signed a preliminary agreement in Riyadh last year.
While the deal represents a major diplomatic and commercial victory for Saudi Arabia and a potential windfall for American firms, it is likely to raise significant concerns about nuclear proliferation in the Middle East. The agreement does not include the safeguards the U.S. has traditionally required to prevent civilian nuclear materials from being used in weapons programs, according to sources cited by Reuters. Officials have acknowledged that the deal could allow for uranium enrichment in the kingdom.
