Riyadh – United States and Saudi Arabia have officially signed a historic civil nuclear cooperation agreement designed to establish a civilian nuclear programme within the kingdom.

United States Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman signed the framework, which consists of a formal 123 agreement under the United States Atomic Energy Act alongside a bilateral safeguards agreement.

The thirty-year partnership aims to expand commercial relations, create high-paying domestic jobs, and reinforce global non-proliferation standards while deploying advanced American nuclear technology. Key provisions of the multi-billion-dollar arrangement involve a joint study that could eventually pave the way for American companies, including Westinghouse, to build a domestic uranium enrichment facility inside Saudi Arabia.

This development marks a significant shift from previous policies, as the current text reportedly omits the stricter gold-standard restrictions seen in prior regional agreements like the 2009 pact with the United Arab Emirates, which completely barred domestic uranium enrichment. The agreement will now be submitted to the United States Congress for formal review, where lawmakers from both parties are expected to raise concerns regarding oversight, safety standards, and potential proliferation risks.

Al Jazeera