Saber Ghanem Ibrahım Eıd

July 23, 2026•Updated: July 23, 2026

Istanbul/Anadolu

The U.S. Department of Energy announced on Wednesday that the United States and Saudi Arabia signed a "historic" agreement on peaceful nuclear cooperation.

The department said in a statement that U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and his Saudi counterpart Abdulaziz bin Salman signed an agreement on civilian nuclear cooperation, known as the "123 Agreement," which sets the legal framework for cooperation between the two countries in the field of peaceful nuclear energy program.

The department added that the agreement represents an important step to enhance peaceful nuclear cooperation between Washington and Riyadh.

It clarified that the agreement will be referred to the U.S. Congress for review according to approved procedures before it enters into force.

The "123" agreements are the legal basis that regulates civilian nuclear cooperation between the United States and other countries, including the transfer of nuclear technology, equipment, and services for peaceful purposes.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the two sides also signed a bilateral nuclear safeguards agreement, explaining that the two agreements establish a decades-long partnership valued at billions of dollars.

The department stated that the agreement gives U.S. companies broad opportunities to participate in the Saudi nuclear program, supporting U.S. industry and supply chains and contributing to meeting the Kingdom's energy needs.

It indicated that the two agreements enhance regional and U.S. security through commitment to high standards of nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation, in addition to enhancing the competitiveness of the United States in civilian nuclear technologies.

The department quoted U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright as saying that the two agreements reflect the commitment of both countries to strengthening trade and strategic relations.

Wright affirmed that the two agreements are based on "the highest standards of nuclear safety and nonproliferation."

It added that the new partnership will contribute to expanding U.S. nuclear technology exports, creating high-wage jobs, enhancing U.S. energy security and national security, establishing global nonproliferation standards, and deepening the strategic partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia.

For its part, the official Saudi Press Agency "SPA" reported that the governments of Saudi Arabia and the United States signed an agreement on cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy between the two countries, within the framework of the strategic partnership that binds the two friendly nations.

It added that the agreement comes "as a completion of what was announced during the visit of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to the United States last November, regarding the completion of negotiations on cooperation between the two countries in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and to enhance bilateral cooperation in energy and advanced technologies."

The agreement aims, according to the agency, "to enhance cooperation between the two countries in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and support the exchange of expertise, knowledge, and technologies."

It continued: "Which contributes to developing joint cooperation according to the highest international standards related to nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation, and reflects the shared vision of the two countries towards expanding cooperation in energy and future technologies and supporting sustainable development."

The agency added that the agreement "represents an extension of the existing cooperation between the two countries in the energy sector, and support for efforts to diversify energy sources, develop advanced technologies, and enhance cooperation and investment opportunities to achieve the common interests of the two friendly countries."