Trump approves landmark US-Saudi nuclear deal, sparking proliferation concerns

US President Donald Trump has approved a landmark 30-year civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia.

The agreement is expected to be worth tens of billions of dollars and could be formally announced this week.

The deal would allow US firms to help build Saudi Arabia’s civilian nuclear infrastructure and could eventually include the construction of a uranium enrichment facility if a joint US-Saudi review determines it is justified. 

Officials say the arrangement gives Washington greater oversight of Riyadh’s nuclear ambitions while strengthening America’s position against foreign competitors in the sector.

The Trump administration is also expected to submit the agreement, known as a 123 Agreement under the US Atomic Energy Act of 1954, to Congress for review in the coming days. Once submitted, lawmakers will have about 90 days to object before the pact can take effect.

However, the proposed agreement has drawn criticism because it reportedly omits two major non-proliferation safeguards: the "Gold Standard," which bars uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing, and the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Additional Protocol, which permits broader inspections of nuclear facilities.

The reported absence of these provisions has raised concerns among arms control experts and lawmakers, particularly given Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s previous statement that the kingdom would seek nuclear weapons if Iran acquired one.