The U.S. Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, confirmed on Wednesday, August 26, that a significant nuclear cooperation agreement reached between Washington and Saudi Arabia has already been sent to Congress, where lawmakers will have 90 days to review it.
The administration of President Donald Trump presents the pact as an opportunity to strengthen the alliance with Riyadh, revitalize the U.S. nuclear industry, and contain the growing influence of Russia and China in the Middle East.
''I can absolutely confirm that the agreement has been sent to Congress,'' Wright stated during a press conference in Washington. The official described the pact as a ''great step forward'' for relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia and highlighted its potential benefits for the U.S. nuclear sector.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright assured that the energy agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia will be sent to Congress for approval
The agreement, announced by the Trump administration on July 22, establishes a 30-year partnership worth several billion dollars aimed at developing the civil nuclear infrastructure of Saudi Arabia. The agreement is known as the ''123 Agreement,'' referring to Section 123 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act, which regulates nuclear cooperation with other countries.
The goal of Washington is to allow U.S. companies to play a central role in the development of the Saudi civil nuclear program while limiting the participation of strategic competitors like Russia and China.
However, the agreement has not been without Democratic criticism. One of the main points of controversy is the potential enrichment of uranium within Saudi Arabia. Democratic lawmakers have warned that any authorization to develop national enrichment capabilities could increase the risk of a nuclear arms race in the Middle East and facilitate Riyadh's eventual move towards manufacturing nuclear weapons.
Representatives Don Beyer and John Garamendi, co-chairs of the House Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control Task Force, expressed concern. According to both congressmen, the pact does not incorporate sufficient safeguards to prevent Saudi Arabia from subsequently seeking to develop nuclear weapons.
Democratic lawmakers have criticized the agreement, citing concerns about the possibilities of Saudi Arabia enriching uranium
Wright rejected those criticisms and defended the guarantees included in the agreement. The secretary assured that the agreement includes comprehensive security mechanisms and that the International Atomic Energy Agency will be responsible for overseeing the safeguards.
The official also denied that the agreement would immediately grant Riyadh the ability to enrich uranium. Wright pointed out that there is no short-term need to provide that technology, especially since Saudi Arabia does not yet have a nuclear reactor.
''That is something that would happen many years later,'' Wright explained, adding that any eventual transfer of enrichment technology would require the consent of both Saudi Arabia and the U.S. government and demonstrate that it aligns with Washington's commercial and national security interests.
The Trump administration toned down its criticisms and assured that there are no risks regarding Saudi Arabia's uranium enrichment capabilities
The pact includes provisions for U.S. companies to provide new reactors and other nuclear technologies. ''Westinghouse Electric'' and its ''AP1000'' reactor are among the main potential beneficiaries of the initiative, which could represent significant business opportunities for the U.S. nuclear industry.
Congress will have 90 days to analyze the agreement and some lawmakers may attempt to block it. However, to override a potential presidential veto and definitively stop the agreement, opponents would need to achieve a two-thirds majority in both the House and the Senate.
The nuclear component is also related to Trump's diplomatic strategy in the Middle East. The president has indicated that he wants to link the agreement to a potential normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel through the Abraham Accords.
The Trump administration wants to link the agreement with Saudi Arabia to the Abraham Accords, which aim to bring peace to the Middle East
Wright confirmed that Trump intends for both processes to advance together and stated that the president believes there is a ''window of opportunity'' to achieve this.
The Trump administration is thus betting on an agreement that combines energy, commercial, and geopolitical interests. For Washington, deepening nuclear cooperation with Riyadh under international supervision could strengthen the U.S. industry while simultaneously preventing Russia and China from taking a dominant role in one of the most important strategic areas of the Middle East.
