What’s in the deal?
On Wednesday, the Energy Department announced that Wright and Abdulaziz signed a peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement, known as a “123 agreement”, and a bilateral safeguards agreement. The 123 agreement, the department claims, “provides great access for American companies in the Saudi nuclear energy program, benefiting American industry, workers, and supply chains while helping to meet Saudi energy needs.”
Congress is expected to know the finer details soon, but some of the core provisions have been reported. The deal, which is expected to last 30 years, would put U.S. companies front and center to develop Saudi Arabia’s nuclear infrastructure. This could include a uranium enrichment facility that could be built if a two-year joint U.S.-Saudi study determines that enrichment in Saudi Arabia is warranted and commercially viable. If, after the study, the U.S. rejects pushing through with indigenous enrichment, Saudi Arabia would, according to the Wall Street Journal, not be allowed to enrich independently or with another foreign partner for 10 years.
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