• President Trump has approved a 30-year nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia.
• The deal permits Saudi Arabia to develop uranium enrichment capabilities under joint conditions.
• Critics warn the agreement could trigger a regional arms race and weaken non-proliferation norms.

President Donald Trump has approved a significant nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, allowing the kingdom to develop uranium enrichment capabilities for its civilian nuclear program. This landmark 30-year deal is expected to benefit American companies in building Saudi nuclear infrastructure and will be formally submitted to Congress for review soon, according to multiple sources including Indiatimes and Middle East Eye.

The agreement's terms reportedly allow Saudi Arabia to conduct uranium enrichment after a joint US-Saudi feasibility study, raising significant concerns among lawmakers regarding potential regional proliferation risks. Experts have highlighted that the absence of stringent safeguards, like the "gold standard" agreement imposed on the UAE, could enable Saudi Arabia to divert enrichment capabilities towards weapons production if political conditions change, as reported by BBC and Reuters.

While the Trump administration argues that the agreement will prevent Saudi Arabia from seeking nuclear technology from nations like Russia or China, critics express concern that it could ignite a nuclear arms race in a region already fraught with tension, particularly given Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s previous statements indicating a willingness to pursue nuclear capabilities in response to Iran’s potential developments. This perspective has been reinforced by insights from CBS News and Indiatimes.

The deal allows American firms, particularly Westinghouse, to engage in building and managing the Saudi nuclear infrastructure. However, without strict limitations on enrichment, it poses a significant shift from past agreements that maintained rigorous non-proliferation standards. This evolving situation has raised alarms among non-proliferation advocates and has led many to question the consistency of US nuclear policy, especially as noted by Indiatimes and Reuters.