US, Saudi Arabia sign civil nuclear deal paving way for uranium enrichment
The US and Saudi Arabia have signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement that may allow the kingdom to develop uranium enrichment capabilities. The deal faces scrutiny from US lawmakers concerned about nuclear proliferation risks in the Middle East.
Why it matters
This agreement marks a significant shift in US-Saudi relations and raises complex geopolitical questions regarding nuclear security and regional stability.
The United States and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement that could pave the way for the kingdom to develop uranium enrichment capabilities for its civilian nuclear programme.US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman signed the agreement, known as a 123 agreement, along with what the Trump administration described as a bilateral safeguards agreement.While the administration released few details, the framework is expected to allow a joint US-Saudi study on building a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia.
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