Riyadh, July 22: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has secured a major diplomatic victory after the United States approved a landmark civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with the Kingdom, a move widely seen as strengthening strategic ties between the two allies. The proposed 30-year agreement is expected to support Saudi Arabia’s ambitious nuclear energy program as part of its Vision 2030 economic diversification plan.
Under the proposed deal, Saudi Arabia could eventually be allowed to enrich uranium for civilian nuclear purposes under agreed conditions, while U.S. companies are expected to play a leading role in developing the Kingdom’s nuclear infrastructure. The agreement will now be submitted to the U.S. Congress for review before taking effect.
The deal is regarded as a significant achievement for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has long sought U.S. support for Saudi Arabia’s civilian nuclear ambitions. Unlike previous proposals, the reported agreement is not linked to Saudi normalization of relations with Israel, removing a key political hurdle.
However, the agreement has sparked criticism from non-proliferation experts and lawmakers, who warn that permitting uranium enrichment without the strictest international safeguards could increase the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East. The proposal is expected to face close scrutiny in Congress in the coming weeks.
