US Senators Demand Transparency on Saudi Nuclear Deal

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators has formally requested the Trump administration declassify and release all information pertaining to a proposed civilian nuclear energy agreement with Saudi Arabia. The senators, including Democrats and Republicans, specifically asked for the disclosure of two secret side letters that were reportedly reached with Riyadh alongside the main deal.

In a letter addressed to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette, the senators noted that the U.S. government has entered into numerous "123 Agreements" for nuclear energy cooperation with other nations without withholding similar information. They argued that access to the full text of the Saudi deal is essential for Congress and the public to understand the commitments being made by both the United States and Saudi Arabia.

The initiative was led by Democratic Senators Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Ed Markey of Massachusetts, and was co-signed by 13 other Democrats, one independent, and two Republicans, Rand Paul of Kentucky and John Kennedy of Louisiana. President Trump submitted the proposed agreement to Congress in August, initiating a 90-day review period during which lawmakers can attempt to pass a resolution of disapproval.

Since the proposal's submission, lawmakers have been pushing for the declassification of the side letters and related documents. The nuclear deal has also raised questions about whether Saudi Arabia would receive it without normalizing relations with Israel. Trump stated the agreement would only be finalized if Riyadh normalized ties with Israel, though congressional aides have indicated the deal itself does not address this condition. The senators' letter on Wednesday did not mention Israel.

The 30-year nuclear agreement includes plans to build AP1000 reactors, a multi-billion dollar project expected to benefit Westinghouse, which is jointly owned by Canada's Cameco and Brookfield Asset Management. Critics, including some Democratic lawmakers and non-proliferation advocates, have expressed concern that the deal does not prohibit Saudi Arabia from enriching uranium or reprocessing nuclear waste, both potential pathways to developing nuclear weapons. The Trump administration maintains that the agreement includes legally required non-proliferation measures.