The United States may assist Saudi Arabia in the process of uranium enrichment as part of a proposed nuclear cooperation agreement.
The Operative Information Center-OMM reports, citing US Congressional documents, that Washington is considering providing Riyadh with technical assistance in the field of uranium enrichment. According to the reports, both the administration of US President Donald Trump and the previous administration have sought to reach such an agreement with the Kingdom to provide nuclear technology, and efforts in this direction are currently ongoing.
The potential deal is estimated to be worth billions of dollars and envisions cooperation in uranium enrichment, nuclear fuel production, and processing. Experts speaking to the Associated Press have noted that while the primary focus is civilian energy, such an agreement could lay the groundwork for Saudi Arabia to develop its own nuclear capabilities. Analysts suggest that Riyadh might only activate a military dimension to its program if Iran successfully acquires nuclear weapons.
This development comes as Saudi Arabia seeks to diversify its energy portfolio and reduce its dependence on hydrocarbons under its "Vision 2030" framework. The United States has traditionally maintained strict "Gold Standard" requirements for nuclear cooperation, which prohibit enrichment and reprocessing on the recipient's soil. However, the strategic necessity of counterbalancing Iranian influence in the Middle East and securing long-term energy partnerships has prompted Washington to reconsider its approach toward Riyadh's nuclear ambitions.
