By Eshioromeh Sebastian
President Donald Trump has formally approved a landmark civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, allowing the kingdom to develop nuclear power using American technology, but has made final approval conditional on Riyadh joining the Abraham Accords to normalise relations with Israel.
The agreement, signed on Wednesday by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, establishes a legal framework for a decades-long, multi-billion-dollar partnership in civilian nuclear energy. It provides Saudi Arabia with the capability to enrich uranium and build nuclear reactors using US technology, following a joint feasibility study.
In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, President Trump stated: “The Civil Nuclear Deal (There will be no enrichment of material!) being made between the United States Department of Energy and Saudi Arabia, which pertains only to non-military use such as the ones that Iran and UAE (and others) already have, will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords.”
He added: “The United States is not opposed to Civil (Non-Enriched) Nuclear Facilities.”
The deal, known as a “123 Agreement” under the US Atomic Energy Act, has been in negotiations for years, spanning both Trump’s first administration and that of former President Joe Biden.
It had once been envisioned as part of a broader agreement that could lead to Saudi diplomatic recognition of Israel, but Riyadh has consistently maintained that normalisation would require a clear path to Palestinian statehood.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has long sought a civilian nuclear program as part of the kingdom’s strategy to diversify energy sources. He has repeatedly stated that Riyadh would develop nuclear weapons if regional rival Iran does.
The agreement allows Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium and reprocess nuclear waste, both potential pathways to a nuclear weapon. This represents a significant departure from the 2009 US-UAE nuclear deal, in which the UAE agreed to forgo enrichment and reprocessing entirely — a standard hailed by nonproliferation experts as the “gold standard.”
Notably, the Saudi agreement does not require the kingdom to sign the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Additional Protocol, which allows for snap inspections at undeclared nuclear facilities.
Analysts say the deal serves multiple US strategic objectives. By partnering with Riyadh, Washington denies Russia and China a strategically important role in the Saudi nuclear program, as both nations have expressed interest in building reactors in the kingdom.
The agreement also secures billions of dollars for American companies, particularly Westinghouse Electric, which is set to build AP1000 reactors under the arrangement.
However, critics warn the deal could spark a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. Senator Edward Markey, a Democrat, stated: “They are allowing Saudi Arabia, a belligerent and authoritarian nation, to develop nuclear weapons technologies while starting a war with Iran under the guise of preventing an Iranian nuclear bomb.”
The agreement will now be transmitted to the US Congress for a 90-day review period. Unless Congress passes a resolution of disapproval with a veto-proof majority, the deal will go into force.
Discussion about this post