Deal gives U.S. firms central role in Saudi nuclear build-out
President Trump approved the agreement late last week, and the accord is expected to be signed Wednesday by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, officials said. The deal is designed to give American companies a central role in developing Saudi Arabia’s nuclear infrastructure while shutting out other foreign competitors, according to the officials.
Under a key provision, U.S. companies would build an enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia if a joint U.S.-Saudi study determines such a step is warranted. Trump administration officials argued that arrangement gives the United States influence over the Saudi nuclear program and a way to prevent it from being used for military purposes.
The agreement is certain to prove controversial among lawmakers who oppose the spread of nuclear technology in the volatile Middle East, according to U.S. officials. However, the accord will be difficult for Congress to block — doing so would require a joint resolution of disapproval and a two-thirds majority in both chambers to override a likely presidential veto.
Wright discussed the deal during his first overseas trip to the region in April 2025, officials said. The signing ceremony with Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman will formalize the agreement, which the Trump administration has cast as a framework for decades-long energy cooperation.