The United States and Saudi Arabia have announced a landmark agreement to establish a civilian nuclear programme in the kingdom, a move expected to strengthen bilateral ties while drawing scrutiny over its potential impact on regional security.
The agreement, unveiled on Wednesday, is expected to create billions of dollars in opportunities for American companies and marks a significant strategic victory for Saudi Arabia, which will gain access to US nuclear technology without being required to normalise relations with Israel.
In recent years, Washington had linked any nuclear cooperation and defence agreement with Riyadh to the normalisation of diplomatic ties with Israel.
Although details of the agreement have not yet been released publicly, reports indicate it could allow American companies to build a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia.
The US Department of Energy did not confirm that provision and declined to comment when asked.
The announcement comes as the United States remains engaged in conflict with Iran, where concerns over Tehran’s nuclear programme continue to dominate stalled diplomatic efforts.
Analysts believe the agreement also sends a strategic message to Iran.
According to Allison Minor, Director of the Project for Middle East Integration at the Atlantic Council, the deal reflects Washington’s intention to reinforce ties with a key regional ally while signalling its position to Tehran.
“By keeping the door open for uranium enrichment inside Saudi Arabia, the nuclear deal sends a powerful message to Tehran,” she said.
The agreement will now be submitted to the US Congress for review, although it is not expected to face major resistance from the Republican-controlled legislature.
Some US lawmakers and Israeli officials have previously opposed any arrangement that could eventually allow Saudi Arabia to develop uranium enrichment capabilities, warning that it could contribute to a regional nuclear arms race.
US Senator Bernie Sanders criticised the agreement, writing on X:
“Trump claims his war on Iran is about stopping an authoritarian country from enriching nuclear fuel. Now he’s letting his best friends in Saudi Arabia — one of the most brutal dictatorships in the world — do exactly that. This is absurd.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the agreement, insisting strict safeguards would prevent the programme from being converted into a weapons project.
“Any agreement that we’re going to make with any country in the world on civil nuclear energy is going to be one that will have safeguards in place to ensure that it can’t be turned into a weapons programme,” Rubio said.
Saudi Arabia has consistently maintained that its nuclear ambitions are solely for peaceful purposes and has repeatedly insisted on its right to develop civilian nuclear energy.
The kingdom also signed a mutual defence pact with nuclear-armed Pakistan last year.
The United States currently maintains civilian nuclear cooperation agreements with more than 50 countries.
While supporters argue the agreement strengthens America’s influence in the Middle East and prevents Saudi Arabia from turning to Russia or China for nuclear technology, critics continue to express concerns over the long-term implications of uranium enrichment on Saudi soil.
Jennifer T. Gordon, Director of the Atlantic Council’s Nuclear Energy Policy Initiative, described the agreement as a strategic victory for Washington.
“Saudi Arabia has made it clear that it will purchase nuclear energy technologies… the only question has been whether the kingdom would choose to work with the US and its allies, or whether it would turn to Russia or China,” she said.
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