Trump submits Saudi nuclear deal to Congress, unlocking tens of billions in contracts
The submission of a 30-year civil nuclear agreement to Congress initiates a 90-day review period that could unlock tens of billions of dollars in reactor contracts for American energy firms, despite significant geopolitical and nonproliferation hurdles.
The White House submitted a proposed civil nuclear energy agreement with Saudi Arabia to Congress on Monday, triggering a mandatory legislative review. Reached in July, the 30-year pact permits American companies to export civilian nuclear technology to the kingdom.
This accord opens the door to a project valued at tens of billions of dollars centered on constructing AP1000 reactors. The massive infrastructure undertaking stands to directly benefit Westinghouse, which is jointly owned by Canada-based Cameco and Brookfield Asset Management.
Under the Atomic Energy Act, Congress now has 90 days of continuous session to review the Department of Energy-led agreement. The deal will automatically take effect unless lawmakers formally object during this window. A United States official confirmed the submission is consistent with existing atomic energy laws.
However, the commercial windfall is contingent on strict geopolitical conditions that remain unresolved. The president stated the accord will proceed only if Saudi Arabia joins the Abraham Accords to normalize ties with Israel.
That diplomatic milestone faces steep obstacles, as Riyadh insists on the recognition of an independent Palestinian state before normalizing relations. This position has hardened significantly since the Gaza war began in 2023, introducing substantial execution risk for the proposed energy exports.
Beyond diplomatic hurdles, the agreement faces scrutiny over nuclear proliferation standards. The president claimed on social media, "There will be no enrichment of material!" However, the pact actually proposes a United States-built and operated enrichment facility subject to a two-year feasibility study.
This facility arrangement has drawn criticism from nonproliferation advocates who argue the deal lacks a permanent prohibition on enrichment. Matthew Kroenig, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, warned against compromising these standards.
"Washington is right to strengthen its relationship with Riyadh, but it should not do so at the expense of its effective nuclear weapons nonproliferation standards," Kroenig said. He added that relying on imported fuel-cycle services "would be a much better outcome than exporting a bomb-making capability to an additional country in an already volatile region."
"It takes a distinct approach from the stringent nonproliferation measures the United States has insisted on in the past when exporting nuclear energy," said Dumbacher, a former Department of Defense official. She warned that unchecked nuclear material could lead to accidents, security risks, and further proliferation.
The underlying security dynamics in the region further complicate the investment thesis. Saudi officials have previously indicated they would pursue nuclear weapons capability if Iran develops its own, highlighting the volatile backdrop for this massive cross-border energy investment.
