The administration of US President Donald Trump has approved a civil nuclear cooperation agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a move that represents a significant shift in the strategic relations between the two countries and paves the way for launching a Saudi civil nuclear program with US support spanning 30 years.

According to US officials cited by the Associated Press and the Wall Street Journal, the official announcement of the agreement is expected today (Wednesday) after final arrangements between the two sides were completed.

Long-term cooperation

The agreement establishes a legal framework for cooperation in the field of peaceful nuclear energy, through what is known as the '123 Agreement' stemming from the US Atomic Energy Act of 1954, which regulates civil nuclear cooperation between the United States and other countries, requiring adherence to strict non-proliferation standards. The agreement allows US companies to participate in the design and development of the Saudi nuclear program's infrastructure.

Uranium enrichment

Among the most prominent provisions of the agreement is the possibility of establishing a uranium enrichment facility inside the Kingdom, if a joint US-Saudi study proves the project's economic and technical feasibility. In response, informed sources clarified that the agreement does not obligate the United States to transfer uranium enrichment technologies or capabilities to Saudi Arabia, but it provides the legal framework that allows cooperation in this field in the future, with the program continuing to be subject to oversight guarantees for peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

Congressional review

The US administration intends to submit the agreement to Congress in the coming days for review, but its implementation does not require a vote of approval, as it can only be blocked if Congress succeeds in passing a joint resolution with a two-thirds majority to override any presidential veto, which makes chances of obstruction limited.

Strategic vision

The agreement comes within the framework of the Kingdom's efforts to diversify energy sources under the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, and reduce dependence on oil by developing a nuclear program dedicated to peaceful purposes, at a time when Washington emphasizes that any nuclear cooperation adheres to the highest standards of safety, oversight, and non-proliferation. The agreement is expected to be formally signed by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, marking a new milestone in the strategic partnership between Riyadh and Washington, and opening the door to extensive cooperation in the nuclear energy sector in the coming decades.