The United States and Saudi Arabia have completed negotiations on a long-anticipated nuclear technology-sharing framework, potentially paving the way for US companies to build reactors in the kingdom and revitalizing America’s atomic energy sector.
The development was announced after Energy Secretary Chris Wright and his Saudi counterpart signed a joint declaration during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to the White House.
While the declaration marks a significant milestone, a formal agreement under Section 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act, required for civil nuclear cooperation, has not yet been finalized.
A key step toward expanding US–Saudi nuclear cooperation
The joint declaration signals a conclusion to years of discussions over how the two countries might collaborate on civil nuclear projects.
If formalized, the partnership could deliver a major boost to US reactor manufacturers, including Westinghouse Electric Co., which has been seeking new market opportunities amid intensified global competition.
According to the White House, the declaration “builds the legal foundation for a decades-long, multi-billion-dollar nuclear energy partnership with the Kingdom,” positioning American firms as “the Kingdom’s civil nuclear cooperation partners of choice.”
The administration stated that any cooperation would adhere to “strong nonproliferation standards,” a central requirement of US nuclear exports.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright emphasized the shared goals of expanding collaboration while maintaining safeguards.
“Together, with bilateral safeguard agreements, we want to grow our partnership, bring American nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia, and keep a firm commitment to nonproliferation,” he said.
Uncertainty over nonproliferation terms
Despite the momentum, significant questions remain, most notably surrounding whether the future agreement will incorporate the so-called “gold standard.”
This provision forbids uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing, activities that can produce weapons-grade material.
Saudi Arabia has previously resisted such restrictions.
Both the Energy Department and the White House declined to clarify whether the negotiated framework addresses enrichment concerns.
Non-proliferation analysts argue that the omission of a formal 123 agreement in the announcement raises further questions.
Henry Sokolski, executive director of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center, highlighted the lack of detail on this sensitive issue in a Bloomberg report.
“They may be close to reaching a formal 123 US nuclear cooperative agreement, but if they actually had it, you would think they would mention how they dealt with the E word—the enrichment of uranium—and whether or not the US will help the Kingdom engage in this nuclear bomb-sensitive activity,” he said.
Implications for the US atomic energy sector
A finalized agreement could unlock significant commercial opportunities for the US nuclear industry, providing a foothold in one of the world’s most energy-ambitious markets.
For companies such as Westinghouse, which have long sought international deals to maintain competitiveness, access to the Saudi market could represent a substantial economic lift.
At the same time, lawmakers and non-proliferation groups continue to express concerns about the potential transfer of sensitive technologies to a region where geopolitical tensions remain high.
Until a formal 123 agreement is signed and its terms clarified, the extent of US–Saudi nuclear cooperation will remain uncertain.
For now, the declaration marks progress, but the final shape of the deal and its implications for global nuclear governance and US industry will depend on the unresolved non-proliferation provisions still under negotiation.
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