A new US-Saudi nuclear cooperation agreement is facing immediate backlash after the two countries signed the pact on July 22, 2026. According to the US Department of Energy, the deal could allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium on its own soil, a point that quickly became the focus of criticism.
The agreement is described as a 123 Agreement, the type of framework used for civilian nuclear cooperation between the United States and partner countries. In this case, the controversy centers on whether the terms leave room for Saudi domestic enrichment rather than requiring the kingdom to rely entirely on imported nuclear fuel.
That issue is especially sensitive because uranium enrichment is one of the most closely watched parts of any nuclear program. Even when presented as part of a civilian energy plan, enrichment provisions often trigger wider debate about oversight, safeguards, and the long-term strategic implications of expanding nuclear capabilities in the Middle East.
With the deal now signed, attention is likely to remain on how the agreement is interpreted and what limits, if any, govern Saudi enrichment activity. The swift reaction shows that the enrichment question may become the defining political battle over the broader US-Saudi nuclear partnership.
