The Trump administration is expected to finalize an agreement with Saudi Arabia that could grant the kingdom the capability to enrich uranium for its civilian nuclear program. The deal, confirmed by anonymous sources familiar with the decision, may allow for the construction of a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia following a joint study.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed concerns about the potential for nuclear proliferation, asserting that any agreement the U.S. signs would not lead to such risks. "The U.S. is not going to reach any agreement with any country in the world that leads to the risk of proliferation," Rubio stated while traveling in the Philippines.
This potential agreement comes amid ongoing international efforts, including those by the U.S. and Israel, to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, a capability Tehran insists is for peaceful purposes.
The agreement is reportedly for a 30-year term and is anticipated to involve U.S. companies in the development of the Saudi nuclear program. It is expected to be submitted to Congress for review, where it may encounter opposition.
Details indicate the deal may not include the International Atomic Energy Agency's Additional Protocol, which mandates enhanced monitoring and verification measures. Alexander Bollfrass, a nuclear expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, described the arrangement as a "revolutionary new approach" to nonproliferation policy, suggesting it could transfer sensitive technology with less oversight than typically expected.
Both former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden had previously pursued nuclear agreements with Saudi Arabia to share American technology. However, nonproliferation experts caution that allowing Saudi Arabia to operate centrifuges could potentially pave the way for a weapons program, a prospect Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has alluded to if Iran were to acquire nuclear weapons.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, a nuclear-armed nation, have previously signed a mutual defense pact. Following this, Pakistan's defense minister indicated that his nation's nuclear program could be made available to Saudi Arabia if necessary, interpreted by some as a warning to Israel, which is widely believed to be the only nuclear-armed state in the Middle East.
While uranium enrichment is a significant step, it is not the sole requirement for developing a nuclear weapon; other complex processes are also necessary. Nevertheless, it raises concerns similar to those surrounding Iran's nuclear activities. For comparison, the United Arab Emirates entered into a similar agreement with the U.S. for its Barakah nuclear power plant, but it did so without seeking enrichment capabilities, a move nonproliferation experts have cited as a model for nations pursuing atomic energy.