The Trump administration has approved a draft US–Saudi nuclear cooperation agreement that would permit Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium as part of its civilian nuclear program, according to reports citing CNN. The draft includes a required US “123 Agreement” but reportedly does not place safeguards that would explicitly prevent Saudi Arabia from developing nuclear weapons. Officials quoted in the reports say the documents, including safeguards protocols, have not been sent to the US Congress, which could be due to concerns about potential bipartisan opposition.
The agreement is described as awaiting President Donald Trump’s signature even though US–Saudi negotiations reportedly concluded in October. The timing could be affected by the upcoming congressional elections, which may shift control to Democrats and constrain the administration’s ability to advance the deal.
Saudi leaders have publicly sought the option to enrich uranium, and the reports link the push to the Saudi desire for coverage under a US “nuclear umbrella.” The arrangement also comes after Saudi Arabia signed a defense pact with Pakistan, a nuclear-armed country. Separately, US lawmakers have typically required Saudi Arabia to adopt the IAEA Additional Protocol, but the reports indicate the draft may not include that requirement.
