US‑Saudi nuclear cooperation agreement

On 22 July 2026 President Donald Trump approved a 30‑year civilian nuclear cooperation agreement – a “123” agreement – with Saudi Arabia. The pact authorises Riyadh to develop a civilian nuclear power program and, after a joint U.S.–Saudi feasibility study, could permit U.S. firms to construct a uranium‑enrichment and spent‑fuel reprocessing plant on Saudi soil. Valued at tens of billions of dollars, the deal is expected to generate large contracts for U.S. nuclear manufacturers such as Westinghouse. It will be submitted to Congress for review, though formal approval is not required for it to take effect. Critics, including U.S. lawmakers, Israel and non‑proliferation experts, note the omission of the IAEA Additional Protocol and the “gold‑standard” ban on enrichment, warning that the technology could be diverted to weapons use. The agreement is announced amid renewed Saudi‑backed fighting in Yemen and heightened U.S.–Iran tensions, raising broader regional security concerns.