New Delhi: The United Sates government is preparing to send a landmark civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia to the US Congress, a move that is expected to reignite debate over Washington’s commitment to nuclear non-proliferation. The proposed framework, which would open the door for US participation in Saudi Arabia’s civilian nuclear programme, reportedly excludes safeguards that have long been considered central to preventing the spread of nuclear weapons technology.
The proposed 123 Agreement, named after Section 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act of 1954, provides the legal basis for the US government and American companies to cooperate with foreign partners on civilian nuclear projects. For Saudi Arabia, the agreement would support its plans to build a multibillion-dollar nuclear power industry as part of its broader energy diversification strategy while creating opportunities for US firms to participate in the sector.
According to Reuters, the 30-year agreement, expected to be signed by US energy secretary Chris Wright and the Saudi energy minister, Abdulaziz bin Salman, does not include the “Gold Standard”, under which partner countries agree not to enrich uranium or reprocess spent nuclear fuel. The report also said the proposed pact excludes the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Additional Protocol, which grants inspectors wider authority to monitor nuclear activities, including inspections at undeclared locations.
The absence of these provisions has raised concerns because uranium enrichment and spent-fuel reprocessing are considered sensitive technologies that can be used in the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons. At the same time, the proposed agreement reportedly creates only the legal framework for future cooperation and does not commit the United States to transferring uranium enrichment technology or other sensitive nuclear capabilities to Saudi Arabia.
The two sides had signed a preliminary agreement in Riyadh last year, with Wright later saying the understanding was not focused on uranium enrichment and contained the non-proliferation standards required under the US Atomic Energy Act. Saudi Arabia, however, has repeatedly maintained that it wants to preserve the right to enrich uranium as part of its civilian nuclear programme, arguing that it should have access to the same rights available to other countries pursuing peaceful nuclear energy.
The proposed agreement is also being closely watched because of earlier remarks by the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, who said his country would pursue a nuclear weapon if Iran successfully developed one. Those comments have remained a key factor in the debate over any US-Saudi nuclear cooperation, with critics arguing that strong safeguards are essential to reducing proliferation risks in the region.
The agreement has inevitably drawn comparisons with the United Arab Emirates, which accepted the “Gold Standard” when it signed its own 123 Agreement with Washington in 2009. Under that arrangement, Abu Dhabi agreed not to pursue uranium enrichment or spent-fuel reprocessing in exchange for access to American civilian nuclear technology.
The Trump administration is expected to submit the agreement to Congress within days, after which lawmakers will have about 90 days of continuous congressional session to review it. Congress can block the deal through a joint resolution, although doing so would require enough support to override a presidential veto, ensuring the proposed pact will face close scrutiny on both strategic and non-proliferation grounds.