President Trump adds condition of Abraham Accords to new U.S.-Saudi Arabia nuclear energy cooperation agreement
The administration announced a 30-year, multibillion-dollar nuclear energy cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, granting American companies priority access to supply reactors and fuel. While the deal was signed on Wednesday, President Trump clarified on Thursday that the agreement is "totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords." The agreement allows Saudi Arabia to potentially enrich its own uranium, a move that has drawn criticism from nonproliferation experts who fear it could spark a regional arms race. While the kingdom intends to use the technology for peaceful civilian energy to diversify its economy, the deal provides a significant head start should Saudi Arabia decide to develop a nuclear bomb in the future. The new condition regarding the Abraham Accords was a late addition that surprised both the Saudi government and the administration's own negotiators. The deal now faces a 90-day review period by Congress. Proponents argue the agreement secures a strategic foothold against China and Russia, while critics worry about the lack of stringent oversight typically required by the "gold standard" of previous U.S. nuclear deals.