The United States said on Wednesday it had signed a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, alongside a separate bilateral safeguards pact.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright signed the agreements with Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman. 

The US Energy Department said the agreements would deepen cooperation between Washington and Riyadh in the civilian nuclear energy sector. 

“Together, these two agreements lay the legal foundation for a decadeslong, multi-billion-dollar partnership that advances several priority economic and strategic objectives, including nuclear nonproliferation,” the US Energy Department said in a statement.

Deal allows nuclear reactors and uranium enrichment

The agreement, known as a 123 Agreement, would allow Saudi Arabia to build nuclear reactors using US technology.

It would also permit the Kingdom to enrich uranium and reprocess nuclear waste, activities that can potentially produce material for nuclear weapons.

However, like all signatories to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Saudi Arabia has already committed to not developing an atomic bomb and consented ‌to international inspections.

The deal, however, does not include an Additional Protocol that would allow the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, to conduct more intrusive inspections at short notice.

The US administration said the agreement complied with non-proliferation requirements under the Atomic Energy Act.

Washington and Riyadh have discussed nuclear cooperation for years, with Saudi Arabia seeking access to US technology and American companies competing for major contracts.

What happens next?

The agreement will now be submitted to Congress and will take effect unless lawmakers vote to block it within 90 legislative days.

A two-thirds majority would be required to override a presidential veto.

Several Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns that the agreement could increase proliferation risks and trigger a regional arms race.

“They are allowing Saudi Arabia, a belligerent and authoritarian nation, to develop nuclear weapons technologies while starting a war with Iran under the guise of preventing an Iranian nuclear bomb,” Democratic Senator Edward Markey told Reuters.

“This deal would make us all less safe,” he added.

“This agreement will set off a nuclear race in the region, further disincentivizing Iran from limiting its own program,” Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said on X.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has previously said the kingdom does not want to develop a nuclear weapon but would do so if Iran acquired one.

Saudi Arabia wants nuclear energy to reduce domestic oil use, leaving more crude available for the energy-rich Kingdom to export. Harnassing nuclear power would help Saudi Arabia slash emissions and generate power for energy-intensive services such as desalination and air conditioning. 

Edited by: Wesley Dockery