Trump signs 30-year nuclear cooperation pact with Saudi Arabia

President Donald Trump has authorized a 30-year agreement with Saudi Arabia that would allow the kingdom to develop uranium enrichment capability for its civilian nuclear program, officials familiar with the matter said. The deal, expected to be announced publicly as early as Wednesday, would involve U.S. companies in building a Saudi enrichment facility after a joint U.S.–Saudi study and will be submitted to Congress for review.

"The agreement could provide the kingdom with uranium enrichment capability for its civilian nuclear program," the officials said.

Lawmakers are expected to scrutinize the pact because it does not appear to include the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Additional Protocol, which would permit expanded monitoring and inspections. Critics warn that providing enrichment technology could increase the risk of nuclear proliferation in the region.

Saudi Arabia is a member of the IAEA, which oversees peaceful nuclear activities, but the proposed agreement would fall short of the monitoring standards applied in similar U.S. deals, such as the United Arab Emirates’ 123 agreement that excludes enrichment.

The announcement comes amid ongoing tensions with Iran, whose nuclear program the United States and Israel have targeted. Energy Secretary Chris Wright discussed commercial nuclear development with Saudi counterparts during a 2023 visit, and the Department of Energy has not commented on the current proposal.

The United States and Saudi Arabia have previously pursued nuclear cooperation under both the Trump and Biden administrations, but non-proliferation experts continue to caution that enrichment technology could be a stepping stone toward weapons development if additional steps are taken.