President Donald Trump has approved a nuclear agreement supporting Saudi Arabia's development of civilian nuclear power, which opens the door to potential uranium enrichment in the kingdom, according to reports from the Wall Street Journal and the Associated Press on July 21, citing sources. This agreement raises concerns about nuclear proliferation in the Middle East while also generating expectations of benefits for the U.S. nuclear industry.
Reports indicate that Trump officially approved the U.S.-Saudi nuclear cooperation agreement last week, which will last for 30 years and is estimated to be worth hundreds of billions of dollars. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman are set to sign the agreement on July 22. The agreement will then undergo review by the U.S. Congress.
The agreement is designed to ensure that U.S. companies play a key role in building Saudi reactors and nuclear infrastructure, aiming to prevent Russian and Chinese access to the Saudi nuclear market.
The main issue at stake is whether uranium enrichment will be permitted in Saudi Arabia. The two countries will conduct joint research for two years to assess the commercial viability of uranium enrichment in the kingdom.
If the need for enrichment is recognized, U.S. companies could construct local enrichment facilities using a 'black box' method that prevents the transfer of sensitive technology to Saudi Arabia. Conversely, if the U.S. opposes enrichment, Saudi Arabia would be barred from independently pursuing enrichment or collaborating with other countries for 10 years.
The Trump administration believes that U.S. involvement in the construction and operation of facilities can prevent the military diversion of enriched uranium and the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel.
However, concerns have been raised that allowing Saudi uranium enrichment could trigger a competition for nuclear technology among Middle Eastern countries, including the UAE, Turkey, and Egypt. The controversy is further fueled by Saudi Arabia's refusal to adopt an additional protocol that would enhance inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Robert Einhorn, a former senior State Department official, stated, "This agreement could revitalize the U.S. nuclear industry and strengthen U.S.-Saudi relations while blocking strategic advances by Russia and China," but he cautioned that without sufficient constraints, including on uranium enrichment, the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East and beyond could increase.
Henry Sokolski, executive director of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center, criticized the agreement, saying, "If Saudi Arabia goes down this path, the UAE, Turkey, and Egypt will likely follow. It is unrealistic to expect this will lead to positive outcomes."
In response, Secretary Wright emphasized in a statement that the agreement will utilize the world's best nuclear technology and expertise designed in the U.S., while adhering to the strictest nuclear safety and nonproliferation standards.
Notably, this agreement does not condition normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, marking a departure from the Biden administration's approach. Critics argue that while the U.S. demands Iran reduce its nuclear program, it is allowing a potential for uranium enrichment in its competitor, Saudi Arabia.
However, it is expected to be challenging for Congress to block the agreement. The Wall Street Journal reported that to prevent the agreement, a joint resolution must pass both the House and Senate, and if President Trump exercises veto power, a two-thirds majority in both chambers would be required to override it. Currently, the Republican Party holds a majority in both the House and Senate.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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