The United States and Saudi Arabia have signed a peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement that could enable the kingdom to enrich its own uranium for a civilian nuclear programme, according to the US Department of Energy.
Key facts
- Donald Trump signed a nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.
- The deal could enable Saudi Arabia to enrich its own uranium for nuclear reactions.
- US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman signed the agreement.
- The deal includes a peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement and an accompanying bilateral safeguards agreement.
- The agreement is aimed at helping the kingdom make fuel for a civilian nuclear programme.
Donald Trump signed a nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia on Wednesday that could enable the kingdom to enrich its own uranium for nuclear reactions, according to reporting by the Guardian.
The US energy secretary, Chris Wright, and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, signed “a peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement” and “an accompanying bilateral safeguards agreement,” according to a statement from the US Department of Energy.
The agreement is intended to help Saudi Arabia produce fuel for a civilian nuclear programme, the Guardian reported. Uranium enrichment is a central part of producing fuel for nuclear reactors.
The Department of Energy framed the arrangement around peaceful cooperation, pairing the cooperation agreement with a bilateral safeguards agreement. Safeguards agreements are typically designed to provide oversight and verification of how nuclear material is used.
The signing marks a significant development in the nuclear relationship between Washington and Riyadh. The details reported so far centre on the two signed documents and the stated goal of supporting a civilian nuclear programme.
Why it matters
Uranium enrichment is a sensitive area of nuclear policy because the same processes used to make reactor fuel can, at higher levels, be relevant to weapons production. A US agreement permitting Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium is therefore a notable shift with potential implications for regional security and international non-proliferation efforts.
Frequently asked questions
What did the US and Saudi Arabia agree to?
According to the US Department of Energy, the two countries signed a peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement and an accompanying bilateral safeguards agreement, which could enable Saudi Arabia to enrich its own uranium for nuclear reactions.
Who signed the agreement?
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, signed the agreement, which President Donald Trump approved on Wednesday.
What is the purpose of the deal?
The Guardian reported that the agreement is intended to help Saudi Arabia make fuel for a civilian nuclear programme.