U.S. President Donald Trump has approved a landmark agreement with Saudi Arabia that is expected to allow the kingdom to develop uranium enrichment capabilities for its civilian nuclear program, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
Although no official announcement had been made at the time of the report, the agreement was expected to be unveiled publicly on Wednesday (July 22).
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the agreement will remain in force for 30 years and will involve direct participation by American companies in the development of Saudi Arabia’s civilian nuclear sector.
Under one provision of the deal, U.S. companies would be permitted to construct a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia following a joint feasibility study conducted by both governments.
Economic and Strategic Significance
Analysts say the agreement could generate billions of dollars in revenue for the U.S. nuclear industry while significantly expanding bilateral cooperation in advanced energy technology.
Before taking effect, the agreement is expected to be submitted to the U.S. Congress for review.
Saudi Arabia’s Nuclear Ambitions
Saudi Arabia is a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Vienna-based organization that promotes the peaceful use of nuclear technology.
Both the Trump and Biden administrations have previously sought to negotiate a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Riyadh.
Most recently, ahead of President Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia last year, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright traveled to Riyadh, where he held discussions with his Saudi counterpart on developing the kingdom’s commercial nuclear energy sector.
