en.Wedoany.com Reported - On the 22nd local time, the U.S. Department of Energy announced that the United States and Saudi Arabia have reached a historic nuclear energy cooperation agreement. The two sides signed a nuclear energy cooperation agreement, along with a supporting bilateral safeguards agreement.
The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Energy also issued a statement early on the 23rd local time, stating that Saudi Arabia has signed a cooperation agreement with the United States on the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The statement said the agreement will promote cooperation between the two sides in accordance with the highest international standards of nuclear safety, nuclear security, and nuclear non-proliferation.
On the 21st local time, a CCTV reporter learned that U.S. President Donald Trump has formally approved an agreement to provide Saudi Arabia with a civilian nuclear project. Sources say this "may open the door for Saudi Arabia to conduct uranium enrichment activities."
It is understood that a key clause in the agreement stipulates that if a joint U.S.-Saudi study deems it necessary, U.S. companies will build a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia. U.S. officials said this move would help the United States exert influence over Saudi Arabia's nuclear program and prevent it from "being used for military purposes." The agreement, valued at tens of billions of dollars, has a duration of 30 years. Trump approved the agreement late last week, and it will be submitted to the U.S. Congress for review in the coming days.
It is also understood that many U.S. lawmakers oppose the proliferation of nuclear technology in the Middle East. However, to block the agreement, lawmakers would need to introduce a joint resolution and override a potential presidential veto with a two-thirds majority vote.
On the 18th, the United States disclosed a draft nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia that allows the transfer of nuclear materials and technology to Saudi Arabia's civilian nuclear program without effectively implementing the nuclear non-proliferation regime. The U.S. has repeatedly obstructed Iran on nuclear issues while giving Saudi Arabia a green light, drawing strong criticism over its "double standard" behavior.
