U.S. and Saudi Arabia Sign New Nuclear Energy Agreement

The United States and Saudi Arabia have officially signed a new nuclear cooperation agreement, marking a major step in the energy relationship between the two nations. Announced on Wednesday, the deal allows American companies to build and operate commercial nuclear power plants within Saudi Arabia. According to the Department of Energy, the agreement was signed by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman.

This agreement is expected to last for several decades and could be worth billions of dollars for the American energy industry. An administration memo seen by NPR indicates that the deal gives U.S. companies priority access to the Saudi nuclear program, allowing them to supply both the reactors and the fuel needed to run them. Secretary Wright stated that the deal reflects a shared commitment to building stronger commercial ties, while also promising that the agreement follows high standards for nuclear safety and nonproliferation—the prevention of the spread of nuclear weapons.

Despite these assurances, the deal has become a subject of intense debate. The primary concern among critics is that the agreement does not include what experts call the "gold standard" for nuclear deals. This standard usually prohibits a country from enriching uranium or reprocessing nuclear fuel, which are processes that can be used to create material for weapons. Furthermore, the current agreement does not require Saudi Arabia to accept the highest level of oversight from the International Atomic Energy Agency, an independent organization that monitors nuclear activities worldwide.

These missing restrictions have led to worries that the deal could accidentally provide the kingdom with a path toward developing nuclear weapons in the future. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has previously stated that if Iran were to develop a nuclear weapon, Saudi Arabia would feel the need to do the same. While the U.S. government maintains that the agreement is strictly for peaceful energy purposes and does not support any weapons program, the lack of strict safeguards has drawn criticism from lawmakers.

Representative Brad Sherman, a Democrat from California, expressed his opposition on social media before the deal was finalized. He argued that the U.S. should only approve such agreements if they include the same strict safeguards found in previous deals, such as the one the U.S. signed with the United Arab Emirates. He warned that the government should not help spread nuclear technology simply because American companies might make a profit.

Experts in the field of nuclear policy also worry about the broader impact on the Middle East. Matthew Bunn, a nuclear proliferation expert at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, told NPR that this agreement could make it harder to negotiate with Iran. Bunn suggested that Iran might be less willing to agree to strict, intrusive inspections of its own nuclear program if Saudi Arabia is not held to similar, high-level standards.

In response to these concerns, the administration’s memo notes that the agreement includes standard nonproliferation terms under the Atomic Energy Act. It clarifies that while the deal creates a legal path for cooperation on nuclear energy, it does not force the United States to transfer any sensitive fuel cycle technologies to Saudi Arabia. The government maintains that the agreement is a safe and effective way to promote peaceful nuclear energy.

As it stands, the agreement is not yet fully active. It must now go through a 90-day review period by the U.S. Congress. During this time, lawmakers will have the opportunity to examine the details of the deal and decide whether it meets the necessary safety and security requirements. The outcome of this review will likely shape the future of energy cooperation between Washington and Riyadh for years to come.