WASHINGTON, JULY 22 — United States (US) President Donald Trump has officially approved a historic agreement with Saudi Arabia that will allow the country to develop a civilian nuclear energy program, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported, citing The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.
The newspaper, citing US officials, reported that the agreement is expected to be in effect for 30 years and be worth tens of billions of dollars.
According to the report, the deal was designed to give US companies a leading role in the development of Saudi Arabia’s nuclear infrastructure, thus limiting the involvement of foreign competitors.
Among the key components of the agreement is the possibility of US companies building a uranium enrichment plant in Saudi Arabia if a joint assessment by Washington and Riyadh finds that the move is appropriate.
The report said the deal also gives the US a role in monitoring Saudi Arabia’s nuclear aspirations, which Trump administration officials say could help prevent the program from being used for weapons development.
However, the agreement, which is expected to be submitted to Congress for scrutiny in the coming days, is likely to face opposition from lawmakers concerned about the expansion of nuclear capabilities in a volatile Middle East.
— BERNAMA-ANATOLIA
