On July 22, local time, the US announced a milestone agreement with Saudi Arabia, which would establish a civilian nuclear program in this Gulf nation.
Two agreements - one on "peaceful nuclear cooperation" and one on "bilateral security measures" - have been signed by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and his Saudi Arabian counterpart - Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, AFP quoted information from the US Department of Energy.
Together, these two agreements lay the legal foundation for a multi-billion dollar partnership lasting decades, promoting a number of priority economic and strategic goals, including non-proliferation of nuclear weapons" - the US Department of Energy emphasized in a statement.
Details of the nuclear deal between the US and Saudi Arabia have not been released immediately. US media revealed that a clause in the agreement may allow US companies to build an uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia. However, the statement of the US Department of Energy did not mention this clause and the department did not comment when asked by AFP about this issue.
The US-Saudi Arabia nuclear deal will be submitted to the US Congress for consideration and the possibility of passage is very high because the Republican Party is controlling the congress.
However, US lawmakers from both parties and Israeli officials have spoken out against Saudi Arabia's civilian nuclear project for concerns that it could be converted to develop nuclear weapons.
Saudi Arabia has long insisted on ensuring the right to pursue its civilian nuclear program. Last year, it signed a mutual defense treaty with Pakistan - a nuclear weapons state.
Washington affirmed that the agreement with Riyadh includes measures to ensure non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright rejected concerns about nuclear proliferation, affirming that this agreement serves Washington's economic and strategic interests.
Rest assured, these agreements maintain the highest standards of nuclear safety and non-proliferation, while based on nuclear technology and the best scientists in the world, designed right in the US," he emphasized.
The agreement between the US and Saudi Arabia was signed under Article 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act. The US has nuclear cooperation agreements with more than 50 countries, although the scope varies depending on each agreement.
Experts say that the agreement between the US and Saudi Arabia has been prepared for quite a long time. Ms. Jennifer T Gordon - Director of the Atlantic Council's Energy Policy Initiative - said that signing the agreement with Saudi Arabia is a victory for the US because the Gulf nation has long made it clear that it will buy nuclear energy technology, start a civilian nuclear program, and the signing of the agreement shows that Saudi Arabia has chosen the US as a partner.
