Get you up to speed: U.S. and Saudi Arabia sign deal that could allow civil nuclear program on Saudi soil
The U.S. and Saudi Arabia have signed a commercial nuclear deal aimed at establishing a civilian nuclear program in Saudi Arabia, announced by the U.S. Department of Energy. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman signed the agreement, with immediate confirmation of its potential to boost Saudi energy capacity.
The U.S. Department of Energy indicated that the deal will require congressional review as mandated by a 1954 law concerning nuclear cooperation agreements. Additionally, Westinghouse Electric Company is among the U.S. firms involved in the development of Saudi Arabia’s nuclear sector, which aims to enhance energy capacity for various civilian applications.
The U.S. Department of Energy confirmed the signing of a commercial nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia, with Energy Secretary Chris Wright emphasising commitments to “nonproliferation” and nuclear safety. The agreement will undergo congressional review as mandated by a 1954 law, with Westinghouse Electric Company expressing optimism about the long-term economic benefits for both nations.
What remains unclear — The specific details and text of the nuclear deal between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia have not yet been released.
US and Saudi Arabia sign nuclear cooperation agreement for civilian programme
Washington — The U.S. and Saudi governments have signed a commercial nuclear deal that could allow Saudi Arabia to have a civilian nuclear program on its soil in cooperation with American companies, the U.S. Department of Energy announced Wednesday.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman signed what the Trump administration calls a peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement, along with a safeguard agreement that the Energy Department says will lay the groundwork for a multibillion-dollar partnership to boost Saudi energy capacity. The deal could set the stage for a nuclear program for energy and other civilian purposes, not to build nuclear weapons.
WTX US News previously reported the expected signing, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
“These agreements reflect our two nations’ shared commitment to strengthening U.S.-Saudi commercial relations, delivering prosperity at home and security to our allies abroad,” Wright said in a statement. “Rest assured, these agreements uphold the highest standards of nuclear safety and nonproliferation, while relying on the world’s best nuclear technology and scientists, designed right here in the United States.”
The deal would create the potential for uranium enrichment on Saudi soil, though that would be controlled by a contracted corporation and only after a lengthy study is completed, WTX US News previously reported. A civilian program is for energy supply for things like AI data centers, and not a military program.
The U.S. will want to see protocols and monitoring. The text of the deal has not yet been released.
The agreement will go to Congress for review, the Energy Department said. A 1954 law requires congressional review of all nuclear cooperation deals with foreign countries.
Westinghouse Electric Company, which builds nuclear reactors, is one of the U.S. companies planning to help develop Saudi Arabia’s nuclear sector.
“The U.S. government’s announcement to launch a civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia is a landmark step that strengthens energy security, expands opportunities for U.S. industry and workers, and drives significant long-term economic growth and investment benefits for both countries,” said Westinghouse CEO Dan Sumner.
A Trump administration framework for civil nuclear cooperation had been publicly announced in the fall of 2025. At the time, Wright described it as including bilateral safeguard agreements to bring U.S. nuclear technology to the kingdom. At the time, Wright stipulated that this keeps a “firm commitment to nonproliferation.”
The original framework for this agreement was developed under the Biden administration, which a former U.S. official with direct knowledge described as requiring U.S.-only enrichment at a U.S.-controlled facility. It would also have been subject to congressional approval.
Under former President Joe Biden, the deal had been tied to a U.S. push to incentivize Saudi Arabia to follow through on the normalization of relations with the state of Israel. Normalization was also dependent on Israel providing a pathway to a future for self-determination by Palestinians, not necessarily a state of their own, and it offered investments and diplomatic representation. After the deadly terrorist attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, and the launch of the war in Gaza, that deal was put on hold.
But fuel-rich Saudi Arabia was still interested in the nuclear energy cooperation, particularly given the high degree of energy supply needed for artificial intelligence. The late Sen. Lindsey Graham had continued to work on this effort through both administrations.
The Trump deal does not appear to be overtly linked to a foreign policy objective, though the administration is at pains to reassure regional allies of the U.S. commitment to their security amid the ongoing Iran war. Saudi Arabia and other regional allies have borne the brunt of Iranian attacks since the war began at the end of February.
The landmark deal signifies the strengthening alliance and trust between the U.S. and the Saudis. But the civilian nuclear deal is likely to irritate Iran, Saudi Arabia’s chief rival, which has long insisted on its right as a signatory of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to maintain a civilian nuclear program.
Saudi Arabia will not be the first Gulf state with a civilian nuclear program. Back in 2009, the Obama administration signed an agreement with the United Arab Emirates that included a pledge for peaceful nuclear energy under nonproliferation controls.