On July 22, 2026, the United States and Saudi Arabia officially signed a 30-year civil nuclear cooperation agreement, known as a 123 Agreement, to facilitate the development of the kingdom's nuclear energy infrastructure. The deal was signed by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman. The agreement grants U.S. companies significant access to Saudi Arabia’s nuclear market, including potential contracts for reactor construction, with the goal of reducing the kingdom’s dependence on oil.

A central and controversial aspect of the deal is the provision allowing Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium and reprocess nuclear waste. Unlike a 2009 agreement with the United Arab Emirates, this pact does not include an 'Additional Protocol' for intrusive inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency. While the U.S. government maintains that the agreement includes a bilateral safeguards framework for peaceful use, nonproliferation groups and various analysts have warned that the domestic enrichment capabilities could create a pathway for the kingdom to develop nuclear weapons.

Following the signing, the details are being shared with the U.S. Congress for review. The agreement follows years of negotiations under both the Trump and Biden administrations and comes during a period of heightened regional tension in the Middle East.