US President Donald Trump has approved an agreement with Saudi Arabia that could potentially provide the kingdom with uranium enrichment capability for its civilian nuclear program, the news agency Associated Press reported, citing two people familiar with the matter. As per the report, the two sides are expected to sign the agreement formally on Wednesday. The deal came in the midst of the US war against Iran-- a state which has been saying its nuclear program is not for weaponisation but for safe civilian usage.
30-year deal
According to the AP report, the deal is expected to last 30 years and is also expected to involve US firms in developing the program. The deal could allow for the building of a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia following a joint US-Saudi study.
But the deal, which is expected to be submitted to Congress for review, could face headwinds among lawmakers who fear that helping the Saudis fulfil their long-standing desire to enrich their own uranium would open new rounds of nuclear proliferation and competition.
Saudi Arabia is a member state of the International Atomic Energy Agency, a Vienna-based agency which promotes peaceful nuclear work but also inspects nations to ensure they don’t have clandestine atomic weapons programs. But the agreement is not expected to include the IAEA’s Additional Protocol, which would allow for more monitoring, inspections and verification, according to one of the people.
US approves nuclear deal in the midst of Iran war
The expected announcement comes in the midst of the war against Iran launched by the US and Israel, in part, to wipe out Tehran’s ability to develop a nuclear weapon. Iran has insisted its nuclear enrichment program is peaceful.
Both Trump and former President Joe Biden tried to reach a nuclear deal with the kingdom to share American technology.
But nonproliferation experts warn any spinning centrifuges within Saudi Arabia could open the door to a possible weapons program for the kingdom, something its assertive de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has suggested he could pursue if Tehran obtains an atomic bomb.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright travelled to Saudi Arabia last year shortly before Trump visited the kingdom and discussed building out the kingdom’s commercial nuclear power industry with his Saudi counterpart.
Already, Saudi Arabia and nuclear-armed Pakistan signed a mutual defence pact after Israel launched an attack on Qatar targeting Hamas officials. Pakistan’s defence minister then said his nation’s nuclear program “will be made available” to Saudi Arabia if needed, something seen as a warning for Israel, long believed to be the Middle East’s only nuclear-armed state.
How is uranium enrichment different from nuclear weaponisation?
Enrichment isn’t an automatic path to a nuclear weapon — a nation also must master other steps, including the use of synchronised high explosives, for instance. But it does open the door to weaponisation, which has fueled the concerns of the West over Iran’s program.
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The United Arab Emirates, a neighbour to Saudi Arabia, signed what is referred to as a “123 agreement” with the US to build its Barakah nuclear power plant with South Korean assistance. But the UAE did so without seeking enrichment, something nonproliferation experts have held up as the “gold standard” for nations wanting atomic power.
Why Saudi Arabia wants independent nuclear capabilities despite its pact with Pakistan
In early March, following significant damage caused by Iranian strikes on Saudi Arabia, many expected Riyadh’s defence pact with Islamabad to be activated immediately. Yet, despite repeated attacks on civilian zones, some striking near hotel basements, the agreement remained dormant. When pressed on Islamabad’s reluctance to defend the Kingdom, Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif repeatedly ducked the question. This hesitation may have catalysed Saudi Arabia’s push to secretly bolster its own nuclear capabilities.
(With inputs from agency)
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