US President Donald Trump formally approved a historic nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia on Wednesday morning, The Wall Street Journal reported. The agreement will provide the kingdom with a civilian nuclear energy program and potentially open the door to uranium enrichment on Saudi territory, raising serious concerns that it could trigger an arms race in the Middle East.
The new agreement, which will remain in effect for 30 years and is estimated to be worth tens of billions of dollars, is intended to secure a central role for US companies in developing Saudi Arabia's nuclear infrastructure while shutting out foreign competitors such as Russia and China.
A key point in agreement points that US companies will build a uranium enrichment facility on Saudi soil only if a joint study determines that such a move is commercially justified. Trump administration officials argue that direct US involvement, including the construction of a restricted-access enrichment facility operating under a classified "black box" model without transferring sensitive technology to Riyadh, will ensure effective oversight and prevent the program from being used for military purposes.
Under the agreement, if Washington opposes enrichment after the joint study is completed, Saudi Arabia will be prohibited from enriching uranium independently or with another foreign partner for 10 years. The agreement is expected to face fierce opposition in Congress from politicians concerned about the spread of nuclear technology in the region.
Blocking the agreement, however, would be difficult. Congress would have to pass a joint resolution, and a two-thirds majority would be required to override a possible presidential veto.
The agreement is expected to be formally signed by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and his Saudi counterpart, Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman. Saudi officials insist that the program is intended for civilian purposes and will allow the kingdom to replace oil with nuclear power for domestic energy production, freeing up additional oil for export. Nevertheless, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has previously made clear that if Iran develops a nuclear weapon, his country will seek a similar capability.
Critics warn that allowing uranium enrichment in Saudi Arabia would break with the "gold standard" for nuclear agreements in the Middle East and could prompt other countries in the region to pursue nuclear capabilities of their own.
