US, Saudi Arabia Announce Multi-Billion-Dollar Nuclear Cooperation Agreement

The United States and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday announced a civilian nuclear cooperation deal that will lay the foundation for a “long-term, multi-billion-dollar partnership” between the two countries.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright signed the agreement along with a separate bilateral safeguards deal with Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, marking a major step towards developing the kingdom’s civilian nuclear programme.

“Together, these two agreements lay the legal foundation for a decades-long, multi-billion-dollar partnership that advances several priority economic and strategic objectives, including nuclear nonproliferation,” the US Energy Department said in a statement.

The agreement comes as Washington fights a war with Iran

that began in part over US concerns with Tehran’s own nuclear program — an issue that remains a key point of contention during now-stalled talks between the two foes.

Nuclear ambitions and nonproliferation concerns

The deal had been expected after reports said the Trump administration was preparing to announce a landmark agreement to help establish Saudi Arabia’s civilian nuclear sector.

The pact could provide billions of dollars in opportunities for US nuclear companies. Reports have said a possible provision could allow American firms to help build a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia.

However, the possibility of Saudi Arabia developing enrichment capabilities has raised concerns among some US lawmakers and Israeli officials, who fear civilian nuclear technology could eventually be diverted towards military purposes.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed those concerns, saying Washington would not approve any agreement that creates a risk of nuclear proliferation.

“Suffice it to say, the US is not going to reach any agreement with any country in the world that leads to the risk of proliferation,” Rubio told reporters in Manila on Wednesday.

The agreement is expected to be submitted to the US Congress, though lawmakers’ approval is not required for it to take effect.

Saudi Arabia, like Iran, has long insisted on its right to develop a civilian nuclear programme and has sought greater control over nuclear technology.

Washington has previously linked nuclear cooperation with broader strategic goals, including a possible Saudi-Israel normalisation agreement and a wider US defence partnership.

(With inputs from AFP)