In a major strategic move, the United States has announced a landmark agreement with Saudi Arabia to develop a civilian nuclear program. The deal, signed by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, consists of two agreements: one on 'peaceful nuclear cooperation' and another on 'bilateral safeguards'. This partnership is expected to span decades and involve multi-billion-dollar investments.
The announcement comes amid heightened tensions in the region, particularly with the ongoing conflict between the US and Iran over Tehran's nuclear ambitions. The US insists that the new agreement includes stringent non-proliferation safeguards to prevent the development of nuclear weapons.
Despite these assurances, the deal has raised eyebrows among US lawmakers and Israeli officials, who fear that Saudi Arabia could use the civilian program as a stepping stone to develop nuclear weapons. The agreement will now be submitted to Congress for review, though it is expected to pass given the current political climate.
The potential for US companies to build a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia has also been highlighted, though the Energy Department has not confirmed this provision. Saudi Arabia has long asserted its right to pursue a civilian nuclear program, similar to its regional neighbor, the United Arab Emirates, which signed a nuclear agreement with the US in 2009.
Experts have mixed opinions on the deal. Some, like Matthew Kroenig of the Atlantic Council, warn against allowing Saudi Arabia the capability for enrichment, while others, such as Jennifer T. Gordon of the Atlantic Council's Nuclear Energy Policy Initiative, see it as a strategic win for the US over Russia and China. The deal is viewed as part of a broader strategic play that could include Saudi Arabia normalizing ties with Israel and signing a US-Saudi defense pact.
