The United States and Saudi Arabia signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement on Wednesday, the 22nd. This agreement is expected to pave the way for U.S. companies to participate in Saudi Arabia's planned nuclear energy program while strengthening the economic and strategic ties between the long-standing allies.

The U.S. Department of Energy announced that Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman have signed what is known as a "123 Agreement," along with a related bilateral safeguards agreement.

These agreements establish a legal framework for U.S.-Saudi civil nuclear cooperation and set standards for nuclear safety, security, and non-proliferation.

The Department of Energy stated that the agreement will expand opportunities for U.S. firms to supply nuclear technology and services to Saudi Arabia, thereby supporting American jobs and domestic supply chains while helping Saudi Arabia meet its growing energy demand.

In a statement, Secretary Wright said, "These agreements reflect our nations' shared commitment to strengthening the U.S.-Saudi commercial relationship, delivering prosperity at home, and providing security to our allies abroad."

He noted that while the agreements are based on U.S. nuclear technology and expertise, they also adhere to "the highest standards of nuclear safety and non-proliferation."

The administration will now submit the agreement to Congress for review under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954. Such an agreement is essential for the U.S. to export nuclear reactors, nuclear fuel, or other significant nuclear technology for civilian use to another country.

The administration stated that the agreement aims to expand U.S. nuclear exports, create jobs within the U.S., strengthen U.S. energy and national security, and solidify global nuclear non-proliferation standards.

The signing of this agreement follows months of negotiations, after Secretary Wright announced in April that Washington and Riyadh were working toward a formal 123 Agreement, describing it as a significant step toward a long-term civil nuclear partnership.

Saudi Arabia has been seeking to develop its civil nuclear industry as part of its "Vision 2030" economic diversification plan. Saudi officials have stated that nuclear energy will meet rising domestic electricity demand while allowing the country to export more of the oil it produces.

The agreement also comes at a time when the U.S. is looking to expand its civil nuclear technology exports and compete more aggressively with China and Russia, both of which have been actively pursuing nuclear power projects worldwide.

The agreement is expected to face close scrutiny in the U.S. Congress, as some lawmakers and non-proliferation advocates have questioned the safeguards governing Saudi Arabia's nuclear ambitions.

The Associated Press reported that non-proliferation experts warn that if centrifuges were to operate within Saudi Arabia, it could open the door for the country to pursue a nuclear weapons development program. The AP also noted that the Saudi Crown Prince had previously signaled that if Iran were to acquire a nuclear bomb, Saudi Arabia might follow suit.

The AP reported that Pakistan, a nuclear-armed state, has a mutual defense treaty with Saudi Arabia, and that a former Pakistani defense minister had stated they would "provide" their nuclear program to Saudi Arabia if necessary—a move interpreted as a warning to Israel, long considered the only nuclear power in the Middle East.

Administration officials stated that this agreement maintains long-standing U.S. non-proliferation standards while strengthening the U.S. position in the global civil nuclear market.

Previously, in 2009, the U.S. signed a 123 Agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which led to the construction and operation of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant with support from South Korea. The UAE pledged to completely forgo domestic uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing and signed an Additional Protocol allowing for intrusive inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

This 123 Agreement with Saudi Arabia will undergo a mandatory 30-day consultation period with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee before being formally submitted to Congress. Once submitted, it will be subject to a 60-day review period during continuous session. If Congress does not pass a joint resolution of disapproval within that timeframe, the agreement will automatically enter into force.

U.S. NNP = Representative Reporter Hong Sung-goo / NNP Special Correspondent info@newsandpost.com