Washington (Somalia Today) — The United States and Saudi Arabia have signed a landmark civil nuclear agreement that could allow the kingdom to enrich uranium and reprocess spent nuclear fuel, prompting warnings that the deal could trigger a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman signed the pact, known as a Section 123 agreement, alongside a separate bilateral safeguards accord, the US Department of Energy said Wednesday.
The agreement will allow Saudi Arabia to build nuclear reactors using American technology and give US companies an opportunity to compete for contracts in the kingdom’s expanding energy sector.
It also opens the way for cooperation involving uranium enrichment and the reprocessing of nuclear waste. Both technologies can support civilian nuclear power, but they can also produce material used to manufacture nuclear weapons.
“Today is a historic day for the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” Wright said as the two governments announced the completion of negotiations.
“We want to grow our partnership, bring American nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia and keep a firm commitment to non-proliferation,” he added.
The two countries had announced the completion of negotiations in November 2025, after years of talks spanning three US administrations.
The Trump administration said the agreement meets the non-proliferation requirements of the US Atomic Energy Act, which regulates the transfer of American nuclear materials, equipment and technology to foreign countries.
But critics said it falls short of the tougher safeguards that former president Joe Biden’s administration had sought during its negotiations with Riyadh.
Safeguards dispute
Unlike the plan considered under Biden, the new agreement does not require Saudi Arabia to adopt the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Additional Protocol.
The protocol gives the United Nations nuclear watchdog broader inspection powers, including greater access to declared and undeclared nuclear-related sites and the ability to conduct short-notice inspections.
Saudi Arabia has signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and says it will use nuclear technology only for peaceful purposes.
But arms-control advocates argue that the absence of the Additional Protocol will make it more difficult for international inspectors to detect any secret nuclear activity.
The agreement also differs sharply from the nuclear cooperation deal that the United Arab Emirates signed with Washington in 2009.
Under that accord, Abu Dhabi agreed not to enrich uranium or reprocess spent nuclear fuel on its territory. US officials have often described those restrictions as the “gold standard” for civilian nuclear cooperation.
Saudi Arabia has repeatedly refused to accept the same limits, arguing that it should have the right to develop its uranium resources and establish a domestic nuclear fuel industry.
Riyadh says it needs nuclear energy to meet rising electricity demand, power desalination plants and reduce the amount of oil and gas it consumes at home, leaving more crude available for export.
Saudi officials have also warned that the kingdom could work with China or Russia if Washington refuses to provide nuclear technology. Beijing and Moscow have both sought roles in the Saudi programme, while France and South Korea have also shown interest.
Arms race fears
The most contentious issue remains Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s repeated warning that Saudi Arabia would seek a nuclear weapon if its regional rival Iran developed one.
Several Democratic lawmakers said allowing Riyadh to enrich uranium contradicted Washington’s efforts to prevent Tehran from retaining similar capabilities.
“They are allowing Saudi Arabia, a belligerent and authoritarian nation, to develop nuclear weapons technologies while starting a war with Iran under the guise of preventing an Iranian nuclear bomb,” Senator Edward Markey said.
“This deal would make us all less safe.”
Markey accused President Donald Trump’s administration of abandoning safeguards that would have prohibited enrichment and reprocessing and required Saudi Arabia to adopt the IAEA Additional Protocol.
“Allowing Saudi Arabia to develop nuclear weapons would be irresponsible and dangerous,” he said.
Senator Chris Murphy also warned that the agreement could encourage other countries in the region to seek nuclear fuel-cycle technology.
“This agreement will set off a nuclear race in the region, further disincentivising Iran from limiting its own programme,” Murphy said.
Congress review
The agreement will now go to Congress, which will have 90 legislative days to review it.
The pact will automatically take effect unless lawmakers approve a resolution rejecting it. Congress would probably need two-thirds majorities in both chambers to override a presidential veto, making the agreement difficult to block despite Democratic opposition.
Such agreements provide the legally binding framework required for significant US nuclear cooperation, including transfers of nuclear materials, equipment and technology, according to the US State Department.
Negotiations began during Trump’s first term and continued under Biden, who sought to link nuclear cooperation and US security guarantees to a wider agreement under which Saudi Arabia would establish diplomatic relations with Israel.
The Trump administration later separated the negotiations, allowing the nuclear talks to move forward despite Riyadh’s insistence that it would not recognise Israel without a credible pathway towards an independent Palestinian state.
