The United States and Saudi Arabia have signed a bilateral agreement to develop a civilian nuclear program in the kingdom, aiming to build a decades-long partnership and expand technology exports.
Key points
- Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman signed both the primary agreement and a bilateral pact on nuclear safeguards in Washington.
- The deal will be submitted to Congress for review in accordance with the United States Atomic Energy Act.
- Westinghouse CEO Dan Sumner described the agreement as a landmark step that will strengthen energy security and open opportunities for U.S. industry.
- Saudi Arabia currently produces virtually all of its domestic energy from fossil fuels, with nearly 60% of electricity coming from natural gas and around 40% from oil.
Why it matters
This agreement establishes a formal legal foundation for multi-billion-dollar civilian nuclear cooperation, potentially shifting Saudi Arabia's fossil fuel-dependent energy sector while expanding U.S. nuclear technology exports.
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