The United States is expected to unveil an agreement with Saudi Arabia that will allow the Gulf kingdom to develop a civilian nuclear programme, according to multiple US media reports.
The announcement is expected to be made on Wednesday by the administration of US President Donald Trump. The proposed agreement could be worth billions of dollars, with American companies expected to play a central role in building facilities linked to Saudi Arabia’s nuclear energy ambitions.
Reports indicate that the agreement would permit Saudi Arabia to develop a US-backed uranium enrichment facility after completing a joint feasibility study with the United States. The enriched uranium would primarily be used as fuel for civilian nuclear power plants.
However, the proposal has raised concerns among nuclear experts and former Israeli officials, who fear the arrangement could eventually provide Saudi Arabia with the technical capability to develop nuclear weapons if geopolitical circumstances change.
The BBC has contacted the White House for official comment on the reported agreement.
Uranium enrichment provision raises questions
Under the reported framework, Saudi Arabia would be allowed to enrich uranium domestically rather than rely entirely on imported nuclear fuel.
This marks a significant departure from the 2009 nuclear cooperation agreement between the United States and the United Arab Emirates, under which the UAE agreed not to enrich uranium and accepted strict non-proliferation conditions.
The reported Saudi arrangement is therefore expected to attract criticism from nuclear non-proliferation advocates, who argue that expanding uranium enrichment capabilities increases long-term proliferation risks.
Regional security concerns
The proposed deal comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme.
The United States and Israel have repeatedly stated that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons remains a key security objective, while Tehran continues to insist its nuclear activities are intended solely for peaceful purposes.
Saudi Arabia has previously linked its nuclear ambitions to developments in Iran.
In a 2018 interview with CBS News, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said the kingdom was not seeking nuclear weapons but warned that if Iran acquired one, Saudi Arabia would “follow suit as soon as possible.”
Agreement to last 30 years
According to reports by The Wall Street Journal, President Trump has already approved the agreement, which would remain in force for 30 years.
The newspaper reported that if the United States ultimately decides against allowing uranium enrichment inside Saudi Arabia after the joint study, the kingdom would be prohibited from pursuing enrichment independently or through another foreign partner for a decade.
The proposal will now be submitted to the US Congress, where some lawmakers from both Republican and Democratic parties are expected to scrutinise aspects of the agreement despite Republicans holding majorities in both chambers.
Reports also suggest the agreement is not contingent on Saudi Arabia normalising diplomatic relations with Israel, an objective that successive US administrations have sought to advance in the Middle East.
