US and Saudi Arabia Set to Sign Civil Nuclear Agreement Amid Regional Energy Shift

The United States and Saudi Arabia are scheduled to sign a civil nuclear agreement tonight at 20:30 Israel time, according to CBS News. This commercial deal will allow American companies to operate civilian nuclear energy facilities on Saudi soil, intended solely for peaceful purposes. The electricity generated is expected to support artificial intelligence data centers and bolster Saudi Arabia's economic development, including enhancing its oil export capacity.

The agreement may also enable Saudi Arabia to enrich its own nuclear fuel for civilian reactors, although the specific American companies involved have not yet been disclosed. While the deal is commercial, the US Congress is expected to play a role in the subsequent approval process.

This initiative has been in progress for some time, with efforts beginning during the Biden administration as part of a broader package that included attempts to normalize relations between Riyadh and Jerusalem. The process was stalled following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, but now appears to be moving forward to signing.

The agreement is likely to attract significant attention from Tehran, as Iran considers its nuclear program a right protected under the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Saudi Arabia's advancement in nuclear technology could intensify the strategic rivalry between the two regional powers.