US and Saudi Arabia Ink Civilian Nuclear Deal Amid Regional Instability

The United States and Saudi Arabia have signed a landmark civilian nuclear cooperation agreement, the U.S. Energy Department announced on Wednesday. The deal, formalised by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, lays the groundwork for a multi-billion-dollar partnership spanning decades.

The agreements include provisions for nuclear non-proliferation, the Energy Department stated. However, a report by the Wall Street Journal indicated that the deal could allow U.S. companies to build a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia—a detail not confirmed by the department.

The civilian nuclear programme has drawn criticism from U.S. lawmakers across party lines and from Israeli officials, who fear it could be diverted to develop nuclear weapons. Saudi Arabia, like Iran, has long asserted its right to civilian nuclear technology. Last year, the kingdom signed a mutual defence pact with nuclear-armed Pakistan.

The deal arrives amid an ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, triggered in part by concerns over Tehran's nuclear programme. The region remains volatile, with Houthi rebels in Yemen—allied with Iran—threatening to blockade Saudi ports, potentially disrupting global crude oil supplies. The Houthis and Saudi forces exchanged fire last week, although a 2022 truce had largely held since the West Asia war began in February.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking in Manila before the announcement, dismissed fears of proliferation. He stated that the United States would not enter any agreement that risks nuclear spread.

The deal is subject to a review by the U.S. Congress, but the Republican-controlled legislature is unlikely to block it. Washington had sought to link any nuclear agreement with Saudi normalisation of ties with Israel and a U.S. defence pact, but those elements remain separate for now.

Policymakers have long worried that if Iran develops a nuclear weapon, it could trigger an arms race across the Gulf. The United States previously signed a nuclear agreement with the United Arab Emirates in 2009, though the UAE does not enrich its own uranium.