The Trump administration signed a nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia this week, giving the kingdom a pathway towards enriching nuclear fuel and committing it to buying reactor technology from American firms. Congress now has 90 days to review the deal before it can take effect.
For Riyadh, the appeal goes beyond energy security. Crude oil made up 40 per cent of Saudi Arabia's gross domestic product in 2022, and the kingdom has posted a budget deficit in nine of the past ten years despite its vast reserves. A domestic nuclear programme would let Saudi Arabia power its economy at home while keeping more of its oil free for export.
