- On July 22, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement and a bilateral nuclear safeguards agreement.
- The deal would lay the foundation for a 30-year multi-billion-dollar nuclear partnership between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, with U.S. companies helping Riyadh build its own nuclear sector.
- Trump has demanded that Saudi Arabia normalize relations with Israel as a condition for the nuclear deal.
- The deal is currently in limbo, with Saudi Arabia insisting on Palestinian statehood and not immediately responding to Trump's demand.
- The agreement must be submitted to the U.S. Congress for review.
- Initially, nuclear fuel would be imported to Saudi Arabia, but the deal proposes a joint two-year study examining the value and commercial viability of enrichment for the kingdom.
- Saudi Arabia has long insisted it will not establish formal relations with Israel until there is a Palestinian state, which Israel’s current government staunchly opposes.
- If the deal fails, Saudi Arabia could change course and look to cooperate with other nations such as China, Russia, South Korea, the UAE, or France.
- The deal is expected to last 30 years, transferring U.S. technology and expertise to help meet the kingdom’s growing energy needs.
The Trump administration's nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia aims to establish a civilian nuclear program, potentially lasting 30 years and involving significant U.S. investment.9
Signed on July 22, the deal includes a bilateral nuclear safeguards agreement and is designed to help Saudi Arabia meet its growing energy needs.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the agreement could lead to a multi-billion-dollar partnership, with U.S. companies assisting in building Saudi Arabia's nuclear sector. Initially, the kingdom would import nuclear fuel, but a joint two-year study will assess the feasibility of local uranium enrichment.6
However, the deal is now in a precarious state. President Trump has demanded that Saudi Arabia normalize relations with Israel as a precondition for the nuclear agreement, a move that has left the deal in a state of diplomatic suspension, according to Steven Cook, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.3
Saudi Arabia has historically maintained that it will not establish formal relations with Israel until a resolution to the Palestinian issue is reached, which complicates the nuclear deal's future.
The agreement must also be submitted to Congress for review, and if it fails, Saudi Arabia may seek nuclear cooperation with other nations, including China and Russia.8
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Energy stated that the agreement aims to diversify energy sources and expand cooperation with the U.S., but concerns remain over the kingdom's commitment to international nuclear oversight, as it has not agreed to the IAEA's additional protocol for expanded monitoring.
“The 30-year agreement positions U.S. companies to help build Saudi Arabia's civilian nuclear sector, including a potential enrichment facility after a joint two-year study. However, Saudi Arabia has not agreed to the IAEA's additional protocol for expanded monitoring, and the deal now requires congressional review and Saudi-Israel normalization.”
