President Donald Trump plans to sign a nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia that will provide the Middle East kingdom with access to nuclear technology from the US, with limited inspections.
The Washington Post reported on Wednesday that the White House is prepared to ink a nuclear agreement with Riyadh. The deal will allow for US companies to build nuclear reactors in Saudi Arabia; Westinghouse will receive the initial contract.
President Trump confirmed later in the day that the agreement was signed.
The nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia is a significantly modified 1-2-3 Agreement. The US has signed the 1-2-3 Agreement with dozens of nations, which gives technology to build civilian nuclear energy programs while placing strict limitations to prevent the weaponization of the nuclear program.
The 30-year deal with Saudi Arabia includes limited international inspections and a pathway for Riyadh to develop a domestic enrichment program.
The agreement may be an effort by the White House to appease Riyadh and keep Saudi Arabia within the US orbit amid the war against Iran. Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf Arab states have suffered substantially from the war that President Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu started.
Congress has the ability to derail the nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia; however, it will require veto-proof majorities in both houses of Congress.
