According to reports by the American Wall Street Journal on July 22, U.S. officials revealed that U.S. President Donald Trump has officially approved a milestone agreement with Saudi Arabia. This agreement will provide Saudi Arabia with civilian nuclear projects and may open the way for uranium enrichment activities within Saudi territory.
This agreement lasts for 30 years, with an estimated value of hundreds of billions of dollars. The agreement aims to give American companies a central role in developing Saudi nuclear infrastructure, while excluding other foreign competitors.
A key clause of the new agreement stipulates that if the US-Mexico joint research determines it is necessary, American companies will build an uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia.
Trump administration officials believe that this measure will give the United States influence over Saudi Arabia’s nuclear projects and prevent such projects from being misused for military purposes.
According to reports, Trump approved the agreement later last week, and it is expected that U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Lighthott will sign the agreement on the 22nd.
In a region like the Middle East, which is already unstable, the spread of nuclear technology has raised concerns among various parties, including the United States and Saudi Arabia.
Robert Einhorn, who once served as a senior official in the U.S. State Department responsible for nonproliferation and arms control issues, said that unless the agreement includes sufficient restrictions, including those on uranium enrichment activities, it could increase the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East and other regions.
Saudi officials have long argued that the agreement is crucial for Saudi Arabia's nuclear industry development, and they insist their intentions are peaceful. However, reports indicate that Crown Prince Mohammed Ben Salman said in 2018 that if Iran develops nuclear weapons, Saudi Arabia would follow suit.
Critics believe that the United States’ provision of nuclear programs to Saudi Arabia, particularly uranium enrichment or plutonium processing capabilities, will encourage the spread of nuclear technology in the Middle East. Unlike the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia has rejected the so-called “gold standard,” which is a commitment not to carry out uranium enrichment or spent fuel processing domestically.
"Saudi Arabia's direction of travel, the UAE, Turkey, and Egypt will all head toward what direction. Believing there would be a perfect ending is pure delusion." said Henry Sokolski, director of the Center for Nonproliferation Policy Education at Washington non-profit organization.
While the United States has reached an agreement with Saudi Arabia, the Trump administration is still pressuring Iran to limit its nuclear program and hand over high-enriched uranium.
Iran and Saudi Arabia are archenemies in the Middle East. Critics argue that this move by the United States has put the Trump administration in an awkward position: on one hand, it insists that Tehran agree to strict restrictions on its nuclear activities, while on the other hand, it is helping Saudi Arabia develop civilian nuclear programs.
This agreement will be submitted to the U.S. Congress for review in the coming days, and it is expected to spark controversy among senators who oppose nuclear proliferation in the Middle East. However, reports say it will be difficult for senators to obstruct the agreement, as overturning a president’s decision requires a joint resolution passed by Congress and approval by a two-thirds majority vote.
