The US and Saudi Arabia will soon sign an agreement to make a civil nuclear deal.

US-Saudi energy relations:

The United States and Saudi Arabia are preparing to sign a preliminary agreement to support the Kingdom’s civil nuclear ambitions. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright spoke about this agreement during his visit to Riyadh on Sunday. The agreement focuses on the nuclear needs of Saudi Arabia. That is why both nations are on their way to their mutual energy goals.

Meeting of energy leaders:

Wright met with Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman on Sunday. The meeting was a part of Wright’s broader tour across Gulf states that produce energy. Wright stated a statement in which he said that a full agreement hasn’t been signed yet, and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two nations will be released later this year. This memorandum will outline the main points of cooperation in the civil nuclear sector.

123 Agreement:

As per Wright, agreement 123 should be followed to fulfill US-Saudi nuclear plans. Agreement 123 refers to the US’s Section 123 Atomic Energy Act of 1954. The Act conforms to strict nuclear rules. This law allows US companies and the government to share nuclear technology and knowledge with other countries only if the country does not use the knowledge for weapons. It includes nine non-proliferation conditions that are designed to prevent the development of nuclear arms or the sharing of sensitive materials with others. Saudi Arabia did not approve the Agreement 123. That is why the implementation of the civil nuclear deal between the US and Saudi Arabia is slowing down.

Also Read: Iran and U.S. Resume Indirect Nuclear Talks Amid Sanctions And Security Concerns

The Uranium enrichment question:

Saudi Arabia wants to enrich Uranium or reprocess nuclear fuel to not only make energy but also to make weapons. The US has been reluctant to support a nuclear program in Saudi Arabia unless there are clear limits on these technologies. American officials worry that if there is no control over the use of nuclear technology, it could lead to an arms race in the Middle East. This concern is especially serious because Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has previously stated that if Iran builds a nuclear weapon, then Saudi Arabia would pursue one as well. Such statements have raised alarms among arms control experts and US lawmakers.

Political concerns:

The US-Saudi nuclear deal has been discussed multiple times, even in the era of Biden. Joe Biden has tried to arrange a broader agreement. The US-Saudi deal aimed to include a civil nuclear agreement, security promises, and efforts to normalize ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Wright is focused solely on the energy aspect beyond the wider diplomatic package.