US President Donald Trump has submitted a proposed civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia to Congress for review, beginning the formal congressional review process for the pact.
The agreement is aimed at supporting Saudi Arabia’s civilian nuclear energy programme and would allow US companies to participate in the development of the kingdom’s nuclear infrastructure. The proposed cooperation is intended to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy while maintaining safeguards against nuclear proliferation.
The agreement has attracted attention in Washington because of concerns over Saudi Arabia’s potential nuclear fuel-cycle activities, including uranium enrichment. Supporters of the pact argue that greater US involvement could help ensure that Saudi Arabia’s nuclear programme remains focused on peaceful purposes.
The deal is also linked to broader US efforts to strengthen ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Trump has pushed for Saudi Arabia to establish diplomatic relations with Israel, while Riyadh has maintained that progress on Palestinian statehood remains an important condition for normalisation.
Congress will now review the agreement under procedures laid down in US law. The review could determine whether lawmakers raise objections to the proposed nuclear cooperation framework before it takes effect.
