US-Saudi nuclear deal allowing uranium enrichment sparks regional proliferation concerns

Consensus Summary

The US and Saudi Arabia formally signed a landmark nuclear cooperation agreement on Wednesday, allowing Riyadh to enrich uranium domestically for the first time. The deal, negotiated over years spanning Donald Trump’s first administration and Joe Biden’s presidency, was finalized by US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman. While the agreement is framed as a civilian nuclear partnership, critics warn it could provide Saudi Arabia with the capability to develop nuclear weapons, particularly as the US is simultaneously waging war against Iran to prevent Tehran from acquiring a bomb. The deal excludes the IAEA’s ‘additional protocol,’ which would have allowed for stricter international inspections, raising concerns about proliferation risks in a region already tense with nuclear ambitions.

The nuclear deal has been in the works for years, with Saudi Arabia insisting on the right to pursue a civilian nuclear program to diversify its energy sources and reduce reliance on oil. Negotiations accelerated after Saudi officials threatened to seek nuclear technology from China or Russia if the US did not provide it. The US has historically resisted such moves, citing nonproliferation concerns, but the current administration appears willing to compromise to maintain influence over Saudi Arabia. The deal is expected to last 30 years and involve significant US corporate participation, including firms like Westinghouse Electric, which stands to benefit financially from the partnership. The agreement also comes as the US and Saudi Arabia face shared challenges, including Iran’s nuclear program and regional instability.

Key figures involved in the deal include US President Donald Trump, who has personally engaged with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, who traveled to Saudi Arabia in 2025 to discuss the nuclear program. Trump visited Saudi Arabia in May 2025, while bin Salman visited the White House in November of the same year, strengthening bilateral ties. Critics, including former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and US Senator Edward Markey, have condemned the deal, arguing it undermines nonproliferation efforts and could trigger a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has dismissed proliferation concerns, insisting the deal adheres to nonproliferation agreements. The agreement will now be submitted to Congress, where it could face opposition, particularly given its potential to weaken international nuclear safeguards.

The coverage of the deal diverges slightly in emphasis, with the Guardian focusing on the risks of proliferation and the recklessness of allowing Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium amid the Iran war. The outlet also highlights the expiration of the US-Russia nuclear arms control treaty in February and the broader instability in the Middle East, including Israel’s strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar. ABC, on the other hand, frames the deal as a strategic move to repair US-Saudi relations and prevent Saudi Arabia from turning to China or Russia for nuclear technology. The ABC article also includes specific details about Jared Kushner’s ties to Saudi Arabia and the financial incentives for US companies, such as the $US2.43 billion investment China made in 2016 to build nuclear manufacturing equipment in Saudi Arabia. Both outlets agree that the deal lacks the stringent monitoring included in the UAE’s 2009 nuclear agreement with the US.

The future of the deal remains uncertain, as it must be approved by the US Congress, where lawmakers could object within 90 session days. If Congress does not act, the agreement will go into force, though a two-thirds majority would be required to override a potential presidential veto. Analysts warn that the deal could embolden other regional actors, including Iran, to accelerate their nuclear programs, while also setting a precedent for weaker safeguards in future nuclear agreements. The Guardian editorial suggests the deal further erodes international nuclear standards, while ABC notes that the agreement could strengthen US influence in the region and deny China and Russia a strategic foothold in Saudi Arabia’s nuclear sector. The unresolved question is whether the deal will ultimately enhance regional stability or accelerate a nuclear arms race.