The Trump administration has inked a nuclear cooperation deal with Saudi Arabia enabling U.S. companies to operate commercial nuclear power facilities in Saudi Arabia.
The Department of Energy announced on Wednesday that the agreement was signed by Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Arabia's energy minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman.
They also finalized a supplementary agreement regarding safeguards. Congress must review the agreement, which has 90 days to deliberate on it.
The cooperation agreement provides American firms with preferential access to the Saudi nuclear energy initiative, allowing them to offer nuclear reactors and fuel, as outlined in an administration memo regarding the agreement reviewed by NPR. The Energy Department stated it is projected to endure for decades and be valued in billions of dollars.
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Wright stated in the announcement that these agreements demonstrate our countries' mutual dedication to enhancing U.S.-Saudi trade ties, ensuring prosperity domestically and security for our allies internationally. Be confident, these agreements maintain the utmost standards of nuclear safety and nonproliferation, utilizing the finest nuclear technology and experts, developed right here in the United States.
The memo reviewed by NPR indicated that the agreement lacks "gold standard" provisions which would prevent the kingdom from enriching uranium and reprocessing nuclear fuel, and does not mandate Saudi Arabia to accept conditions that would result in increased oversight from the International Atomic Energy Agency.
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The absence of such restrictions will heighten worries about granting the kingdom a route to weapon development. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stated that should Iran create a nuclear weapon, Saudi Arabia would do the same.
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"Congress ought to consent only if the agreement includes the same gold-standard protections as our deal with the UAE," Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Ca., shared on X on Tuesday night, prior to the announcement of the deal. "A President fighting against nuclear proliferation in the Middle East should not enable proliferation simply for the sake of U.S. companies earning a profit."