- The Trump administration has approved a Saudi nuclear deal internally.
- The United States plans to announce a landmark civilian nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to confirm the deal but dismissed proliferation fears, stating the US will not reach any agreement that risks proliferation.
- The deal would provide billions of dollars for the US nuclear industry.
- US lawmakers from both parties and Israeli officials oppose the project over proliferation concerns.
- The deal is expected to be submitted to Congress but does not require approval to proceed.
- Washington ties the nuclear agreement to a broader strategic package including normalisation with Israel and a US defence pact.
The Trump administration is poised to announce a landmark nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia, aimed at establishing a civilian nuclear program in the kingdom. This agreement comes amid escalating tensions with Iran, which has long been a concern for US officials due to its own nuclear ambitions.1
The deal, expected to be revealed on Wednesday, is projected to provide billions of dollars for the US nuclear industry. A key provision may allow US companies to construct a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.24
Despite the potential economic benefits, the agreement has drawn significant bipartisan opposition from US lawmakers and Israeli officials. They fear that a civilian nuclear project could be repurposed to develop nuclear weapons, raising proliferation concerns. “Suffice it to say, the US is not going to reach any agreement with any country in the world that leads to the risk of proliferation,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated, addressing concerns during a summit in Manila.35
The deal is expected to be submitted to Congress soon, although its approval is not mandatory for it to proceed. Washington has been keen to integrate this nuclear agreement into a broader strategic framework, which includes normalizing ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel, alongside a US defense pact.6
“The deal faces opposition from US lawmakers and Israeli officials over proliferation fears, and is tied to a broader package including Saudi normalisation with Israel and a US defence pact. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to confirm the deal but dismissed proliferation concerns, stating the US will not reach any agreement that risks proliferation.”
