The United States and Saudi Arabia signed a landmark nuclear cooperation agreement on Wednesday that could pave the way for the kingdom to enrich uranium domestically, the US Department of Energy announced.
Deal details and timing
Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman signed a “peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement” and a “bilateral safeguards agreement,” according to a statement. The full text has not been released, but the timing is controversial as the US is engaged in a military campaign against Iran partly to prevent Tehran from enriching uranium.
Civil nuclear talks with Saudi Arabia have dragged on for years under both the first Trump administration and President Joe Biden. Previous attempts failed due to warnings from nonproliferation groups that the deal could offer Riyadh a path to a nuclear weapon.
Congressional review and opposition
The agreement will be submitted to Congress for review, where lawmakers concerned about insufficient monitoring safeguards may oppose it. Saudi Arabia has previously stated it would seek nuclear weapons if Iran acquired them, an intention Iran denies. US officials also feared Riyadh would turn to China or Russia for nuclear technology if Washington did not provide it.
In a report to Congress earlier this year, the administration urged support for the deal partly to “prevent strategic competition from seizing an opportunity to undermine United States national security interests for decades to come.” The report argued the US must expand nuclear cooperation to “re-establish our leadership in the global civilian nuclear energy market.”
Economic and security benefits touted
The Energy Department said the partnership is expected to boost US nuclear technology exports, create “high-paying” jobs, and “strengthen America’s energy and national security posture.” Wright stated: “These agreements reflect our two nations’ shared commitment to strengthening US-Saudi commercial relations, delivering prosperity at home and security to our allies abroad. Rest assured, these agreements uphold the highest standards of nuclear safety and nonproliferation, while relying on the world’s best nuclear technology and scientists, designed right here in the United States.”
However, the deal likely lacks the enhanced International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) monitoring found in the additional protocol that Iran accepted under the 2015 nuclear deal.
Industry and expert reactions
Dan Sumner, CEO of Westinghouse Electric Company, which is expected to support Saudi nuclear development, called the announcement “a landmark step that strengthens energy security, expands opportunities for US industry and workers, and drives significant long-term economic growth and investment benefits for both countries.”
But Rosemary Kelanic, head of the Middle East programme at Defense Priorities, warned on social media: “Giving Saudi Arabia uranium enrichment technology is a terrible idea on many counts. But it’s especially idiotic to do it *in the middle of a war over Iran’s nuclear programme*.” She called the decision reckless and not in US interests, adding: “Saudi enrichment would put immense pressure on Iran to get the bomb. Is Trump TRYING to provoke Iran into weaponising?”
Others argued the deal reflects Saudi Arabia’s desire to diversify its energy mix away from oil.
Regional context
Saudi Arabia and nuclear-armed Pakistan signed a mutual defense pact after Israel attacked Qatar targeting Hamas officials. Pakistan’s defense minister then said his nation’s nuclear program “will be made available” to Saudi Arabia if needed, a warning to Israel, the Middle East’s only nuclear-armed state.
