President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud|Trump White House Archived
The United States and Saudi Arabia have signed a landmark agreement to develop the Kingdom’s civilian nuclear energy program.
The development could transform energy cooperation across the Middle East while reigniting debate over nuclear security.
The 30-year, multibillion-dollar deal gives American companies the main role in building Saudi Arabia’s nuclear infrastructure, including power reactors and related facilities.
A joint US-Saudi study will also examine whether the Kingdom should enrich uranium on its own soil. If approved, US companies will build and operate the enrichment facility under strict controls to prevent the transfer of sensitive nuclear technology.
The Trump administration says the agreement will strengthen ties with Saudi Arabia, create jobs for the US nuclear industry, and reduce the influence of Russia and China in the Kingdom’s energy sector. Officials also insist the deal includes strong safeguards to ensure the nuclear program is used only for peaceful purposes.
The deal mirrors existing US nuclear agreements with 26 other nations, but this one reportedly leaves out two key safeguards designed to prevent proliferation:
- The Gold Standard, which restricts uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing to reduce proliferation risks.
- The Additional Protocol, which gives the International Atomic Energy Agency authority to carry out surprise inspections.
Saudi Arabia says it needs nuclear energy to meet rising electricity demand and free up more oil for export. The country has repeatedly said its nuclear ambitions are peaceful, although Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman previously warned that Saudi Arabia would seek a nuclear weapon if Iran developed one.
The agreement has triggered criticism in Washington. Several Democratic lawmakers argue that allowing Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium could increase the risk of nuclear weapons spreading across the Middle East and encourage other regional powers to pursue similar programs.
Unlike the Biden administration, which linked nuclear cooperation to Saudi Arabia recognizing Israel, the Trump administration has moved ahead with the deal without making diplomatic normalization a condition.
Congress is expected to review the agreement in the coming days, with lawmakers set to closely examine whether its safeguards are strong enough to prevent nuclear proliferation while protecting US national security.