Saudi Arabia and US near landmark 30-year nuclear agreement
US president formally approves a 30-year civil nuclear cooperation deal with Saudi Arabia, potentially allowing uranium enrichment facilities.
Key Takeaways
AIUS President Donald Trump has formally approved a civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, according to the Wall Street Journal. The deal gives American companies a central role in developing the Kingdom’s nuclear infrastructure, with an estimated value in the tens of billions of dollars.
The agreement spans 30 years and aims to enable Saudi Arabia to establish a civilian nuclear program, with the possibility of allowing uranium enrichment within its territory under joint regulations and arrangements between Riyadh and Washington.
Agreement terms and next steps
The deal includes a provision permitting US companies to build a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia if a joint study by both countries demonstrates technical and economic justification. The agreement is set to be submitted to the US Congress for review in the coming days, with expectations of significant debate among lawmakers, particularly those opposed to expanding nuclear enrichment technologies in the Middle East.
The newspaper noted that blocking the agreement in Congress would be difficult, as it would require a joint resolution and a two-thirds majority to override any potential presidential veto.
Upcoming official signing and significance
According to the report, Trump gave his final approval to the agreement late last week, and it is expected to be signed by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman next Wednesday.
The two ministers previously discussed the agreement during Wright’s first visit to the region in April 2025, as part of negotiations to establish a long-term framework for cooperation on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
The newspaper sees the agreement as a significant gain for the Kingdom in its efforts to develop a civilian nuclear program, while also opening broad investment and commercial opportunities for US companies in Saudi nuclear energy and infrastructure projects.