A report from the Wall Street Journal on the 21st, citing US officials, reveals that President Trump has formally approved an agreement to supply Saudi Arabia with civilian nuclear technology. This move, the report suggests, “could open the door for Saudi Arabia to conduct uranium enrichment.”
Currently, Saudi Arabia can obtain extended nuclear protection from Pakistan through a joint defense agreement.
According to the report, a key clause in the deal states that if joint US-Saudi research deems it necessary, American companies will build a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia. US officials argue this move helps Washington influence Saudi nuclear projects and prevent them from being used for military purposes.
The agreement, reportedly valued at hundreds of billions of dollars, spans 30 years. Trump gave his approval late last week, and the deal is expected to be submitted to the US Congress for review in the coming days.
The report also notes that many US lawmakers oppose spreading nuclear technology in the Middle East. However, to block the deal, legislators would need to pass a joint resolution and then override a potential presidential veto with a two-thirds majority vote.
Earlier this month, on the 18th, US media exposed a draft of this US-Saudi nuclear agreement. It allegedly allows the transfer of nuclear materials and technology to Saudi Arabia’s civilian nuclear program without fully implementing non-proliferation measures. This double standard—tough on Iran while greenlighting Saudi Arabia—has sparked intense public skepticism.