US and Saudi Arabia sign nuclear power deal allowing uranium enrichment

The United States and Saudi Arabia have signed a sweeping 30-year civilian nuclear cooperation agreement that could eventually allow Riyadh to enrich uranium on its own soil. The agreement was signed by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s broader involvement in the framework. The pact opens the door for American firms, notably Westinghouse, to help build nuclear reactors and related infrastructure in the kingdom, with multibillion-dollar investments on the table. What the deal actually includes The deal includes a joint two-year feasibility study that could lead to the construction of a US-operated uranium enrichment facility inside Saudi Arabia. Previous US nuclear cooperation agreements with other Middle Eastern partners, like the UAE, included what’s known as the “gold standard.” That’s a commitment by the partner nation to forgo domestic uranium enrichment and plutonium reprocessing entirely. This agreement with Riyadh does not include that gold standard. It also lacks enhanced protocols from the International Atomic Energy Agency, the global nuclear watchdog. Those additional IAEA proto...