KABUL: The U.S. Department of Energy has announced that the United States and Saudi Arabia have signed a long-awaited civil nuclear cooperation agreement following years of negotiations.
Under the agreement, Saudi Arabia will be allowed to build civilian nuclear reactors using U.S. technology and enrich uranium. However, some experts have cautioned that uranium enrichment could, in the future, provide the kingdom with the capability to produce nuclear weapons.
According to Reuters, unlike a proposal advanced during the Biden administration, the new agreement does not require Saudi Arabia to accept expanded and unannounced inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The agreement will now be submitted to the U.S. Congress, if lawmakers do not reject it within 90 legislative days, it will enter into force.
U.S., Saudi Arabia sign civil nuclear energy agreement
