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President Donald Trump has formally approved a 30-year civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia that could be worth tens of billions of dollars and allow U.S. companies to build a uranium enrichment facility in the kingdom, according to U.S. media reports.
The Trump administration plans to formally sign and announce the agreement Wednesday, The New York Times reported, citing two unnamed U.S. officials.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the deal would give American companies a central role in developing Saudi Arabia’s nuclear infrastructure while excluding foreign competitors. The administration has said the agreement could generate billions of dollars for the U.S. nuclear industry.
Under one provision, U.S. companies could build a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia if a joint study by Washington and Riyadh determines that the project is warranted.
The agreement is expected to be submitted to Congress for review in the coming days, although congressional approval is not required for it to take effect.
Some Republican and Democratic lawmakers, along with Israeli officials, have opposed a Saudi civilian nuclear program because of concerns that it could eventually be used to develop nuclear weapons.
Trump administration officials say the agreement would give the U.S. a role in monitoring Saudi Arabia’s nuclear ambitions and help prevent the civilian program from being used for weapons development.
The deal is nevertheless expected to face opposition from lawmakers concerned about expanding nuclear capabilities in an already unstable Middle East.
The 30-year agreement is estimated to be worth tens of billions of dollars, according to The Wall Street Journal.
It is designed to ensure that American companies take the leading role in building Saudi Arabia’s civilian nuclear infrastructure while preventing competing foreign firms from entering the program.
The potential construction of a uranium enrichment plant would depend on the findings of a joint U.S.-Saudi review.
The planned announcement comes as fighting has resumed between Saudi Arabia and Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Saudi Arabia and the Houthis exchanged fire last week for the first time in years, threatening a truce that has largely held since 2022.
The Houthis also threatened this week to expand the conflict by blockading Saudi ports.
The group had largely remained outside the fighting since Israel and the U.S. attacked Iran in late February, but tensions have risen amid renewed clashes between Washington and Tehran.
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