Trump Approves 30-Year Saudi Nuclear Deal, Opens Door to Uranium Enrichment in Kingdom

US President Donald Trump has approved a landmark civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, paving the way for the kingdom to develop its nuclear energy programme and potentially enrich uranium on its own soil.

US President Donald Trump has formally approved a landmark civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, marking one of the biggest strategic breakthroughs in bilateral relations in recent years. The proposed agreement, reportedly valued at tens of billions of dollars, would enable the kingdom to significantly expand its civilian nuclear energy programme while opening the possibility of uranium enrichment facilities being established inside Saudi Arabia.

The agreement represents a major diplomatic victory for Riyadh, which has long sought US support for developing an indigenous civilian nuclear industry. Unlike previous negotiations under the Biden administration, the Trump administration has removed the requirement that Saudi Arabia first normalise diplomatic relations with Israel before securing American nuclear cooperation.

According to officials familiar with the agreement, the proposed pact would remain in force for 30 years and would provide American companies with a leading role in constructing Saudi Arabia’s civilian nuclear infrastructure while largely excluding competing foreign suppliers. A key provision allows for uranium enrichment facilities to be built within Saudi Arabia if a joint US-Saudi technical study concludes that such facilities are necessary for the kingdom’s civilian nuclear programme.

Administration officials argue that keeping American companies involved throughout the process would allow Washington to maintain oversight and reduce proliferation risks associated with sensitive nuclear technologies. The agreement is expected to be submitted to the US Congress in the coming days, where lawmakers will review its provisions before it can fully enter into force.

One of the most significant policy shifts involves the removal of Saudi-Israel normalisation as a prerequisite for nuclear cooperation. Under previous US-Saudi negotiations, particularly during the Biden administration, civilian nuclear cooperation formed part of a broader regional package that required Riyadh to establish diplomatic relations with Israel in exchange for security guarantees and access to advanced nuclear technology.

The Trump administration has now decoupled those issues, allowing the nuclear agreement to proceed independently. The move is expected to strengthen Washington’s strategic relationship with Saudi Arabia while giving Riyadh greater flexibility in pursuing its regional foreign policy objectives.

Despite the administration’s support, the agreement is likely to face scrutiny on Capitol Hill. Several lawmakers have previously raised concerns about allowing Saudi Arabia access to uranium enrichment technology, warning that such capabilities could eventually be diverted towards military purposes if safeguards weaken in the future.

Critics argue that expanding nuclear infrastructure in an already volatile Middle East carries inherent proliferation risks. Trump administration officials, however, maintain that American participation in Saudi Arabia’s nuclear sector offers stronger oversight than allowing Riyadh to seek comparable technology from alternative foreign suppliers.

Beyond civilian energy generation, the agreement underscores the Trump administration’s broader effort to deepen strategic ties with Saudi Arabia while maintaining American influence over the kingdom’s long-term technological development. By securing a central role for US companies in Saudi Arabia’s nuclear infrastructure, Washington aims to reinforce its geopolitical partnership with one of its most important Middle Eastern allies, even as regional security dynamics continue to evolve amid tensions involving Iran and wider competition for influence across the Gulf.

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