US-Saudi nuclear agreement: safeguards deemed insufficient by American lawmakers

A draft agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia on the development of civilian nuclear energy is causing serious concern in Washington, with some lawmakers believing that the non-proliferation guarantees provided are insufficient.

According to a letter from the U.S. State Department reviewed by lawmakers, the text does not include the so-called "strictest" safeguards demanded by several Democratic legislators. These lawmakers fear that the agreement could create risks to international security by facilitating the kingdom's access to sensitive technologies.

The President's Administration Donald Trump He nevertheless defended this project, launched last year, highlighting its economic and diplomatic benefits. The stated objective is to strengthen energy cooperation with Saudi Arabia while supporting American companies in the nuclear sector.

But concerns persist in Congress, particularly due to past statements by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who asserted that the kingdom could acquire nuclear weapons if Iran were to develop them. This prospect fuels fears of proliferation in an already highly unstable region.

Democratic lawmakers had called for any nuclear agreement to include so-called "reference standards," similar to those accepted by the United Arab Emirates in 2009. This framework notably prohibits uranium enrichment and the reprocessing of spent fuel, two essential steps for the potential manufacture of nuclear weapons.

However, the State Department letter indicates that the agreement under consideration only provides for a bilateral safeguards mechanism between Washington and Riyadh, without mentioning these stricter standards. Critics argue that this approach weakens existing international oversight mechanisms.

The text is currently in its final stages of revision before a possible presidential signature. In accordance with US law, Congress would then have 90 days to object to it, opening the door to a potential political showdown in Washington over this strategic issue.