Trump Approves Historic Civil Nuclear Deal Allowing Saudi Uranium Enrichment

US President Donald Trump has officially approved a landmark civil nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia, granting the kingdom the ability to develop a civilian nuclear program including uranium enrichment on its soil. The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump gave his approval late last week, with the deal expected to be signed imminently. The agreement is set to last 30 years and is valued at tens of billions of dollars.

According to US officials, the deal aims to secure a central role for American companies in building Saudi Arabia's nuclear infrastructure, effectively sidelining foreign competitors. A key provision allows US firms to establish a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia, contingent on joint US-Saudi assessments confirming the necessity of such a step. The US government believes the agreement will enable Washington to influence Saudi nuclear activities and prevent the misuse of nuclear materials for military purposes.

The New York Times reported that Trump separated this civil nuclear deal from demands for Saudi recognition of Israel and normalization of relations. Furthermore, the terms of this agreement are reportedly less stringent than those of the 2009 civil nuclear deal between the US and the United Arab Emirates, which included strict oversight and a permanent waiver of the right to produce nuclear fuel.