U.S. President Donald Trump has approved a 30-year nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, paving the way for the kingdom to develop a civilian nuclear programme with support from American companies.
According to reports by the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, the multibillion-dollar deal would give U.S. firms a leading role in building Saudi Arabia’s nuclear infrastructure while limiting the involvement of other foreign competitors.
A key part of the agreement would allow U.S. companies to build a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia if a joint U.S.-Saudi assessment determines that such a project is necessary.
The Trump administration believes the partnership would enable the United States to maintain oversight of Saudi Arabia’s nuclear programme and reduce the risk of the technology being used for military purposes.
The agreement is expected to be submitted to the U.S. Congress for review in the coming days, where it could face opposition from lawmakers concerned about the spread of nuclear technology in the Middle East.
Reports also suggest that the deal includes compromises that could limit international inspectors’ access to certain sites suspected of housing nuclear materials that could potentially be diverted for weapons development.
Discussions on the agreement date back to April 2025, when U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright held talks with Saudi officials on strengthening energy cooperation between the two countries.
The deal comes after earlier efforts by the United States to link support for Saudi Arabia’s civilian nuclear ambitions with a broader agreement to normalise relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. However, those discussions stalled following the outbreak of the Gaza war in late 2023.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has repeatedly expressed the kingdom’s interest in developing a civilian nuclear programme. In a 2018 interview, he also stated that Saudi Arabia would seek nuclear weapons if Iran were to acquire them.
Despite restoring diplomatic relations in 2023 under a China-brokered agreement, Saudi Arabia and Iran continue to compete for regional influence, with longstanding tensions remaining between the two countries.
Source: AFP.
