Washington, July 22 : The United States is expected to unveil a landmark civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, allowing the Gulf kingdom to develop a civilian nuclear energy programme as part of a broader strategic partnership. The proposed deal, expected to be announced by the administration of US President Donald Trump, is seen as one of the most significant energy and security agreements between the two countries in recent years.
According to media reports, the agreement would enable American companies to participate in building Saudi Arabia’s nuclear infrastructure, including facilities linked to uranium enrichment for civilian energy purposes. The deal is estimated to be worth tens of billions of dollars over its 30-year duration and is expected to create substantial business opportunities for the US nuclear industry.
Under the proposed framework, Saudi Arabia could be allowed to enrich uranium on its own soil at a US-built facility after completing a joint technical assessment with Washington. The enriched uranium would be used to fuel civilian nuclear power plants aimed at diversifying the kingdom’s energy mix and reducing dependence on oil. However, uranium enrichment technology can also be used in the production of nuclear weapons, raising concerns among nuclear non-proliferation experts.
The agreement will require consultation with the US Congress before it can be fully implemented. Although President Trump’s Republican Party controls both chambers of Congress, lawmakers from both parties are expected to closely scrutinise the proposal due to its strategic and security implications.
The proposed arrangement differs significantly from the 2009 US-UAE civil nuclear agreement, under which the United Arab Emirates agreed not to enrich uranium domestically and instead relied on imported nuclear fuel. Analysts say the Saudi agreement could establish a new benchmark for future nuclear cooperation agreements in the Middle East.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of continuing regional tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme. The United States and Israel have repeatedly expressed concerns over Tehran’s nuclear activities, while Iran maintains that its programme is intended solely for peaceful purposes. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has previously stated that although the kingdom does not seek nuclear weapons, it would pursue similar capabilities if Iran were to develop a nuclear bomb.
Reports also indicate that the proposed agreement is not contingent on Saudi Arabia normalising diplomatic relations with Israel, a key foreign policy objective pursued by successive US administrations. The absence of such a condition marks a shift from earlier negotiations that linked broader regional cooperation with nuclear and security arrangements.
If approved, the agreement would strengthen strategic ties between Washington and Riyadh while advancing Saudi Arabia’s long-term energy diversification plans under Vision 2030. At the same time, it is expected to trigger debate among international security experts over the balance between expanding civilian nuclear energy and preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons in an already volatile region.
