US-Saudi Nuclear Agreement Enables Uranium Enrichment and Reactor Construction

The agreement, known as a 123 agreement, establishes a legal framework for civil nuclear cooperation. Signed by U.S. According to msn.com, the deal is worth tens of billions of dollars and involves the construction of AP1000 reactors, which would benefit Westinghouse, a company jointly owned by Brookfield Asset Management and Cameco.

Uranium Enrichment and the Proliferation Risk

A central point of contention is the provision allowing Saudi Arabia to enrich its own fuel and reprocess nuclear waste. As newsx.com reported, these two capabilities are potential pathways to developing a nuclear weapon. This differs from a 2009 deal with the UAE, where the UAE agreed to forgo both enrichment and reprocessing.

Critics argue the current deal is less stringent than previous proposals. Unlike a plan under the Biden administration, this version does not include an Additional Protocol that would allow the International Atomic Energy Agency to conduct intrusive snap inspections. While the Trump administration asserts that the accords uphold the highest standards of nuclear safety and nonproliferation, nonproliferation experts disagree.

Israeli Reaction and the Normalization Trade-off

The deal arrives at a moment of extreme volatility. Israel, which has never publicly confirmed nor denied the existence of its own nuclear arsenal, has expressed deep concern that the agreement could trigger a regional arms race. According to nytimes.com, the move underscores a U.S. strategy in the region that is increasingly independent of Israeli interests.

The Israeli government had previously been willing to tolerate the risk of Saudi enrichment if it were coupled with the normalization of diplomatic ties between the two nations. However, those negotiations largely dissolved following the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023. Ariel Levite, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace’s Nuclear Policy Program and Harvard’s Belfer Center, told msn.com that the current situation leaves Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with little leverage.

“So, what happens is the Israeli government is hugely unhappy with this but has no [recourse], because they have already consented in principle, paid the price and they didn’t get the benefits.”

Ariel Levite, via msn.com

The Iran Trigger and Saudi Ambitions

The geopolitical driver for the deal is the ongoing tension with Iran. Saudi Arabia has historically linked its nuclear aspirations to the capabilities of its rival. In 2018, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told CBS News that while the kingdom did not want a nuclear bomb, it would follow suit as soon as possible if Iran developed one. This sentiment continues to haunt the current diplomatic landscape, particularly as the U.S. and Israel maintain a campaign against Iran that began in February.

Democratic lawmakers have been vocal in their opposition, suggesting the deal is contradictory. Senator Edward Markey argued that the U.S. is 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, according to newsx.com.

Congressional Review and Implementation

The agreement is not yet in force. It must now undergo a review by Congress. If lawmakers do not vote to object within 90 session days, the deal will proceed. However, overriding a potential presidential veto would require a two-thirds majority. While some, like Republican Senator Jim Risch, believe the deal benefits both nations, others view it as a security risk.

Despite the signing, the actual deployment of technology will be slow. An industry source cited by newsx.com noted that a feasibility study on using U.S. technology is still required. Between that study and the inherent pace of building nuclear infrastructure, it could be many years before the reactors and enrichment plants are operational.