U.S. nuclear power deal with Saudi Arabia faces criticism in Israel
A U.S. agreement to provide nuclear energy technology to Saudi Arabia has drawn criticism from Israeli officials who fear it could trigger a regional nuclear arms race. Experts note that while the deal is commercial, it provides Saudi Arabia with infrastructure that could eventually be repurposed for weapons development.
Why it matters
The deal highlights the complex intersection of commercial energy interests and nuclear non-proliferation efforts in a volatile geopolitical region.
TEL AVIV — An agreement for U.S. companies to build and run nuclear energy plants in Saudi Arabia was met with alarm in Israel on Thursday, as the U.S. and Iran continued to trade strikes in the latest escalation engulfing the Persian Gulf.
World Trump administration signs commercial nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia The nuclear cooperation agreement, signed on Wednesday by the Trump administration with Saudi Arabia, gives American companies priority access to supply nuclear reactors and fuel to the Saudi nuclear energy program, according to an administration memo about the agreement seen by NPR. The agreement must be reviewed by Congress, which has 90 days to consider it.
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