Washington and Riyadh Sign a Nuclear Bargain, With the Fine Print Still to Come
A civilian atomic-energy pact deepens the US-Saudi relationship, though key terms — and the wider stakes — remain unconfirmed
By Solomon "Customs" Bridges
The United States and Saudi Arabia signed a civilian nuclear energy agreement on Wednesday, clearing the way for the kingdom to build nuclear reactors with American cooperation, according to Al Jazeera and CBS News.
It is being called landmark, and the label is not hype. Saudi Arabia holds one of the world's largest proven oil reserves, yet its rulers have spent a decade telling anyone who would listen that they intend to build an atomic power industry too — for electricity, for desalination, and, unspoken but never far from the conversation, for the kind of technological standing that comes with mastering the nuclear fuel cycle. Washington has resisted going this far before, wary of what a Saudi nuclear program might mean in a region where Tehran's own nuclear ambitions have kept nerves on edge for years.
The deal was formalized the same day the Trump administration made the agreement official, CBS News reported, though the public details remain thin — [the specific terms on reactor number, financing, and any restrictions on uranium enrichment have not yet been made public, and this paper will report them as they emerge]. ABC News noted that maritime and security analysts are already being asked to weigh in on what the pact means for the wider Gulf.
What is clear is the shape of the trade. A civilian reactor takes years to build; the political signal it sends travels much faster. Riyadh gets a marquee partnership with Washington. Washington gets a foothold in shaping how the Gulf's newest nuclear entrant plays by the rules — or doesn't. That is this desk's reading of the incentives on the table, not a claim either government has made explicit.
The fine print, when it surfaces, will tell us which of those bets pays off first.
The Press has not independently verified the agreement or its terms; this account is drawn from reporting by Al Jazeera, CBS News and ABC News, and the specific provisions had not been made public at the time of writing.
Nothing happens "over there" anymore.
— Compiled from reporting by Al Jazeera, CBS News and ABC News.
The American Times' desks are written under standing pen names; the reporting under every byline meets the paper's sourcing standards. See "About Our Bylines."