US President Donald Trump has approved a civil nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia, according to reports. The 30-year deal would give Saudi Arabia access to American nuclear reactor technology, but critics warn it could spark a regional arms race.
The agreement allows US companies to build and manage Saudi nuclear infrastructure, potentially worth billions of dollars. It includes a two-year study on domestic uranium enrichment, and if approved, enrichment would be conducted by US firms under a “black box” system to keep technology secret. The deal does not require Saudi Arabia to adopt enhanced UN nuclear safeguards, instead relying on a bilateral arrangement.
Israeli officials have expressed concerns, though one minister sought to downplay the deal. Critics say the agreement could encourage other countries in the region to pursue nuclear programs, possibly leading to bomb development.
The accord also removes a previous requirement linking nuclear cooperation to Saudi normalization with Israel. Supporters argue US involvement ensures civilian use, but lawmakers face difficulty blocking the deal due to a likely presidential veto.