Trump's Saudi nuclear deal sparks debate as US House passes $1.15tn military bill

The Trump administration has finalized a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, known as a "123 agreement," which was signed by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman. This deal aims to establish a decades-long, multibillion-dollar partnership allowing American companies to develop Saudi Arabia's nuclear infrastructure for peaceful purposes. The agreement could potentially enable Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium, with the Trump administration asserting it upholds stringent nonproliferation and safety standards.

However, the proposed agreement has ignited significant debate and alarm among nonproliferation experts and some members of Congress. Critics argue that the deal deviates from the "gold standard" of nuclear cooperation, as it reportedly does not mandate Saudi Arabia to forgo domestic uranium enrichment or plutonium reprocessing, nor does it require adherence to the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Additional Protocol for enhanced inspections. Concerns have been raised that these omissions could provide Saudi Arabia with a pathway to developing nuclear weapons, potentially triggering a nuclear arms race in the Middle East, particularly given past statements by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman regarding nuclear capabilities.

The agreement is slated for congressional review, where lawmakers have 90 days to consider its terms and potentially block it, though a presidential veto could still allow the deal to proceed. This development occurs as the US House of Representatives recently passed a separate $1.15 trillion military appropriations bill, the fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), further highlighting active legislative engagement on defense and international security matters.