On Wednesday, July 22, 2026, President Donald Trump approved a 30-year agreement with Saudi Arabia to partner on developing the Kingdom's civil nuclear energy program, according to two U.S. officials. The deal, valued at tens of billions of dollars, involves U.S. industry helping to develop Saudi nuclear infrastructure.

The agreement leaves open the possibility that Saudi Arabia could enrich uranium domestically in the future, a prospect that officials say could raise concerns about nuclear weapons proliferation. However, the United States and Saudi Arabia have agreed to safeguards intended to inhibit any weaponization efforts. Notably, these safeguards would be governed bilaterally by the two countries rather than by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which traditionally oversees nuclear agreements.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to comment on the specific details of the plan but stated that the Trump administration would work with Congress to formalize the deal. Rubio emphasized, “Suffice it to say, the U.S. is not going to reach any agreement with any country in the world that leads to the risk of proliferation.”

The announcement came shortly after President Trump met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on July 21, 2026.

Sources