U.S. and Saudi Arabia Announce Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement

The United States and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday announced a civil nuclear cooperation agreement that would let the kingdom build reactors with American technology. Reuters reported it would also let Saudi Arabia enrich uranium, while Trump posted that “there will be no enrichment of material!”, AFP reported. The agreement now goes to Congress for review.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman signed a so-called 123 Agreement, named for the section of the Atomic Energy Act that governs such pacts, along with a bilateral safeguards agreement, Reuters reported. Unlike a plan the Biden administration pursued, the deal does not require Saudi Arabia to sign the Additional Protocol, an arrangement that allows surprise inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency of undeclared sites, according to Reuters.

Whether the agreement permits enrichment is the central dispute. AFP also reported that Trump said the deal is “totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining” the Abraham Accords, which Riyadh has resisted without a path to a Palestinian state. AFP reported that the Wall Street Journal described a provision for American companies to build a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia, and that the Energy Department did not mention that provision or comment on it. The text of the deal was not made public. Enrichment and reprocessing are both potential routes to a nuclear weapon, Reuters noted, and the United Arab Emirates gave up both in its 2009 agreement with the United States.

The administration says the deal serves American interests. Wright said it advances U.S. economic and strategic interests and upholds nonproliferation standards, AFP reported. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said any civil nuclear agreement will include safeguards so it cannot be turned into a weapons program, according to AFP. Riyadh says the deal supports energy diversification and meets the highest international standards, and has said it could turn to China or Russia otherwise, Reuters reported.

The commercial stakes are large. Reuters said the agreement envisions a roughly 30-year plan to build AP1000 reactors, worth tens of billions of dollars, which would benefit Westinghouse. A feasibility study is required first, and the project could take many years.

Congress will decide whether the pact takes effect. Reuters reported that it becomes effective unless lawmakers object within 90 session days, and that overriding a presidential veto of a disapproval resolution would take a two-thirds majority. Sen. Edward Markey, a Democrat, said the deal would “make us all less safe,” while Republican Sen. Jim Risch said he agrees with the crown prince that the deal benefits both countries. The IAEA had not commented at the time of Reuters’ report.

Outside experts are skeptical. Matthew Kroenig of the Atlantic Council said allowing Saudi enrichment would be a mistake, AFP reported. Critics, the agency added, warn the arrangement could set off a regional nuclear race, and lawmakers of both parties and Israeli officials have opposed similar projects before. Saudi Arabia last year signed a mutual defense pact with nuclear-armed Pakistan, AFP noted.

Nonproliferation experts, including Kelsey Davenport of the Arms Control Association, urged lawmakers to reject or modify the deal, Reuters reported.