Trump Approves Historic Nuclear Deal with Saudi Arabia

Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump has officially approved a historic civilian nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia worth billions of dollars. The 30-year partnership agreement paves the way to establish a comprehensive civilian nuclear program in Saudi Arabia and allows domestic uranium enrichment within the country.

The agreement gives U.S. companies a crucial role in developing Saudi Arabia’s nuclear infrastructure. Discussions were initiated during U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright’s regional visit in April 2025. Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman and Chris Wright will formally sign the agreement soon.

Key Details & Highlights:

• Domestic Uranium Enrichment: A two-year joint Saudi-U.S. study will be conducted to assess the commercial feasibility of domestic enrichment compared to imported fuel. Following this, U.S. companies will construct a uranium enrichment facility within Saudi Arabia.
• Vision 2030 Goals: Saudi Arabia stated that the civilian nuclear program is key to diversifying energy sources, utilizing domestic uranium deposits, and freeing up more oil for export.
• Major Win for Westinghouse: The project will primarily use ‘AP1000’ reactors from U.S. firm Westinghouse Electric. Each reactor, with a capacity of 1,100 MW, can power a medium-sized city or a large AI data center.
• Safety and Transparency: The project will adhere to the highest nuclear safety standards. Saudi Arabia has assured that the program is entirely for peaceful purposes and subject to international monitoring.

Geopolitical Significance:

While the previous Biden administration had linked nuclear cooperation to other political issues, the Trump administration views it as an independent strategic partnership.

“This agreement will prevent Russia and China from gaining a strategic role in Saudi Arabia’s nuclear program while revitalizing the U.S. nuclear industry.” — Robert Einhorn (Former U.S. State Department Official)

As part of standard procedure, the agreement will soon be submitted to the U.S. Congress for approval, where it is widely expected to pass.