The United States and Saudi Arabia have signed a landmark agreement to cooperate on the development of the Kingdom’s civilian nuclear energy programme.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman signed the peaceful nuclear cooperation deal, commonly known as a “123 Agreement”. A separate bilateral safeguards agreement was also signed by the two countries.
According to the US Department of Energy, the agreements establish a legal framework for a long-term partnership involving civil nuclear technology. The cooperation is intended to help Saudi Arabia meet its growing energy requirements while creating new commercial opportunities for American nuclear companies.
The agreement focuses on the peaceful use of nuclear technology, including electricity generation. It does not represent an agreement to develop nuclear weapons.
Economic and strategic cooperation
The US Energy Department said the partnership could support American nuclear technology exports, create jobs and benefit US companies, workers and supply chains.
Saudi Arabia is seeking to diversify its energy sector as part of its broader economic transformation. Developing nuclear power could help the Kingdom generate electricity while preserving more of its oil and gas resources for export.
Wright said the agreement would strengthen commercial relations between the two countries while maintaining nuclear safety, security and non-proliferation standards.
The deal could also deepen the wider strategic relationship between Washington and Riyadh at a time when energy security and nuclear technology are becoming increasingly important geopolitical issues.
Agreement faces Congressional review
The agreement will now be submitted to the US Congress for a 90-day review process before it can fully proceed.
Some lawmakers and nuclear policy experts are expected to examine the safeguards contained in the deal, particularly those concerning uranium enrichment and the prevention of nuclear-weapons proliferation.
The US administration maintains that the agreement supports high standards of nuclear safety and non-proliferation. However, its implementation and regulatory safeguards are likely to remain under close international scrutiny.
If approved, the agreement could pave the way for a decades-long, multibillion-dollar civil nuclear partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia.
