US and Saudi Arabia Sign Landmark 30-Year Civil Nuclear Deal with Uranium Enrichment Clause

The United States, under President Donald Trump, has officially approved a historic 30-year civil nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia. The deal, expected to be signed by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, aims to grant American companies, particularly Westinghouse, a central role in developing Saudi Arabia's energy infrastructure. This move is designed to limit the influence of foreign competitors such as Russia and China while ensuring strict US oversight of the nuclear program.

A key provision allows American firms to build a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia, contingent on a two-year joint study confirming its commercial viability. If approved, the facility will operate as a "black box," preventing the transfer of sensitive enrichment technology to Riyadh and ensuring the materials are not used for military purposes. The agreement will soon be submitted to the US Congress, where it faces strong bipartisan opposition due to concerns over nuclear proliferation in the volatile Middle East, especially since Saudi Arabia has not adopted the International Atomic Energy Agency's "gold standard" safeguards.

Overcoming a presidential veto to block the deal would require a two-thirds majority in Congress. Unlike previous administrations, the Trump administration is not conditioning the nuclear deal on normalization with Israel, asserting that direct US involvement will keep the program strictly civilian and secure. The announcement coincides with White House efforts to revive the US nuclear industry amid rising tensions with Iran and declining global oil supplies. Saudi Arabia seeks to develop nuclear energy to meet domestic demand and increase crude oil exports, though experts and lawmakers warn of the risks associated with granting uranium enrichment capabilities in such a sensitive region.