President Donald Trump has submitted a proposed civil nuclear energy agreement with Saudi Arabia to Congress, initiating a mandatory 90-day review period under the Atomic Energy Act. The 30-year deal, finalized in July, would enable U.S. companies to export civilian nuclear technology to the kingdom, including the construction of AP1000 reactors. This project is expected to bring significant economic benefits, notably to Westinghouse, which is partly owned by Cameco and Brookfield Asset Management. Trump has made clear the accord will only proceed if Saudi Arabia joins the Abraham Accords normalization agreement with Israel.

Despite these economic and diplomatic hopes, the deal faces criticism from nonproliferation experts and some lawmakers. The pact does not include a permanent ban on uranium enrichment or reprocessing, activities that can be diverted toward nuclear weapons development. Instead, the agreement calls for a two-year feasibility study of a U.S.-operated enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia, raising concerns about potentially expanding bomb-making capabilities in an already unstable region. Experts warn this could undermine longstanding U.S. policies designed to limit nuclear weapons proliferation.

The deal marks a shift in U.S. nuclear export policy, which has traditionally emphasized stringent safeguards to prevent military use of civilian nuclear technology. Analysts, including Erin Dumbacher from the Council on Foreign Relations, caution that loosening restrictions risks increasing the number of countries with nuclear material that could be repurposed, heightening security risks and proliferation potential worldwide. Observers highlight the timing complicates global efforts to maintain nuclear order, especially given tensions in the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia’s position remains firm that it will not normalize diplomatic ties with Israel without a recognized independent Palestinian state, a stance reinforced after last year’s Gaza conflict. Additionally, the kingdom has warned it may pursue nuclear weapons if Iran develops them. This complex geopolitical backdrop intensifies scrutiny over the U.S.-Saudi nuclear agreement, as Congress weighs the balance between advancing strategic partnerships and preventing nuclear proliferation.