The United States and Saudi Arabia have signed a landmark 30-year cooperation agreement in the field of civilian atomic energy and a bilateral agreement on control measures (safeguards). The multi-billion-dollar agreement announced by the U.S. Department of Energy establishes a legal framework allowing US companies to build and make Saudi civilian atomic energy infrastructure.
Key terms of the agreement: precedence US access: The agreement grants US companies, including Westinghouse, a major function in the construction of atomic reactors and fuel delivery, effectively blocking competition from China and Russia. possible enrichment of uranium: After a two-year joint economical viability study, the agreement may let Saudi Arabia to proceed national enrichment of uranium.
Following a joint two-year economical viability study, this agreement could enable Saudi Arabia to carry out national enrichment activities. If the task was approved, the enrichment plant would be operated by US companies based on a rigorous and strictly controlled black box kind mechanics designed to defend delicate technologies.
In contrast to the atomic agreement concluded in 2009 between the US and the United arabian Emirates, this agreement does not impose a legal ban on the State to enrich uranium or to process spent fuel.
Omission of the IAEA Protocol: The agreement is based on a bilateral control framework managed by both States, alternatively of requiring the adoption of the Additional Protocol of the global Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which allows global inspectors to carry out unannounced, emergency inspections. independency from the standardisation process: The agreement was pushed through by the Trump administration without linking it to the agreement on normalization of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
Can China now sign a akin deal with Iran?
Trump Approaches Landmark atomic Deal With Saudi Arabia in large Win for Kingdom - WSJ
