Donald Trump Approves Nuclear Deal That Could Change Saudi Arabia’s Role in Uranium Enrichment
The Trump administration is preparing to announce a new agreement with Saudi Arabia that could mark a significant step in the two countries’ partnership. While the details have not been formally released, the proposal is already expected to receive close attention in Washington.
The expected announcement comes as the United States continues working closely with Saudi Arabia on several strategic issues. The agreement is also likely to face congressional scrutiny before it can move forward.
According to HuffPost, President Donald Trump has approved a nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia that could eventually allow the kingdom to enrich uranium for its civilian nuclear program. Two people familiar with the matter said the 30-year agreement could be announced as early as Wednesday.
The deal could give Saudi Arabia more room to develop its nuclear program
The agreement is expected to involve U.S. companies helping Saudi Arabia develop its civilian nuclear program. It could also allow the kingdom to build a uranium enrichment facility after a joint U.S.-Saudi study, although the deal does not immediately approve such a facility.
Saudi Arabia has been trying to develop nuclear energy for years as it looks to reduce its dependence on oil. Trump and former President Joe Biden both pursued discussions over nuclear cooperation with the kingdom, but the latest agreement would represent one of the most significant steps toward formalizing that partnership if it proceeds through the remaining review process.
The agreement is also not expected to include the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Additional Protocol. That agreement gives inspectors broader powers to monitor and verify that a country’s nuclear program remains peaceful. Those issues are expected to be part of the congressional review as lawmakers decide whether the agreement includes enough safeguards.
The expected announcement also arrives while the United States continues military operations targeting Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Iran has consistently maintained that its uranium enrichment program is intended for peaceful purposes, though its activities have remained a source of international concern for years.
Saudi Arabia has long argued that it wants nuclear power to diversify its energy sector. However, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has previously said the kingdom would seek a nuclear weapon if Iran were to develop one, a position that has continued to shape international debate over Saudi Arabia’s nuclear ambitions.
The regional situation is expected to play a role in how the Saudi agreement is viewed. Uranium enrichment can be used to produce fuel for civilian nuclear power plants, but it is also considered sensitive because the same technology can be used in a weapons program if a country decides to pursue one.
Trump’s relationship with Saudi Arabia has also faced setbacks. During one high-profile standoff over the Strait of Hormuz, plans for a U.S. operation reportedly stalled after Saudi Arabia declined to let American forces use one of its airbases. That episode highlighted that cooperation between Washington and Riyadh has not always been straightforward, even as the two countries continued working together on major regional issues. The new agreement indicates that nuclear cooperation has remained on the agenda despite previous disagreements between the two allies.
The White House and Saudi officials in Riyadh did not immediately respond to requests for comment. If announced, the proposed 30-year agreement would still need to complete the congressional review process before it can move ahead. That review is expected to determine whether the safeguards included in the framework satisfy lawmakers while allowing the United States and Saudi Arabia to expand cooperation on civilian nuclear energy. If approved, the agreement would mark one of the biggest steps yet in U.S.-Saudi civilian nuclear cooperation.
(Featured Image: The White House, PDM 1.0)
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
Follow The Mary Sue:
