The United States and Saudi Arabia have signed a landmark agreement intended to allow the Gulf kingdom to develop a civilian nuclear programme, BBC News reported.
The US Department of Energy described the arrangement as a peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement that would give American companies significant access to Saudi Arabia’s nuclear energy programme. It said a separate bilateral safeguards agreement had also been signed, creating the legal basis for a long-term, multi-billion-dollar partnership covering economic, strategic and non-proliferation objectives.
Saudi Arabia said the deal extended existing energy cooperation between the two countries and noted that it followed a visit by the Saudi leader to Washington last November.
The text of the agreement has not been published. According to US media reports cited by the BBC, the deal could allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium in future. Enriched uranium can be used as fuel for power stations, but can also be used in nuclear weapons.
Experts quoted by the BBC said such a provision would be unprecedented for the US and could increase the risk of nuclear proliferation in the region. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the agreements maintained high standards of nuclear safety and non-proliferation, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected suggestions that Washington would enter into any deal that increased proliferation risks.
The announcement comes during heightened tensions involving the US, Iran and Saudi Arabia. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told CBS News in 2018 that Saudi Arabia was not seeking a nuclear weapon, but said it would follow suit if Iran developed one.
The agreement is now due to be reviewed by the US Congress. Some lawmakers from both parties are expected to oppose it, although Republicans control both chambers and opponents do not appear to have enough votes to block it.
US media reports say President Donald Trump has not required Saudi Arabia to recognise Israel as part of the deal, a demand Washington had previously linked to such an agreement. If enrichment is included, the arrangement would differ from a 2009 US nuclear agreement with the United Arab Emirates, under which the UAE does not produce its own fuel.
