The Trump administration is in talks with Saudi Arabia about potentially granting access to US nuclear technology and uranium enrichment, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Sunday.
Speaking ahead of US President Donald Trump鈥檚 upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia, Wright told Al Arabiya News that a broader energy cooperation agreement is expected to be signed soon, with a nuclear-specific deal likely to follow in the coming months.
鈥淚 think in the short run, we鈥檒l sign a broader agreement about cooperation across the energy space in partnerships, in investments, in investigations. Nuclear is certainly one of those areas,鈥� Wright said.
鈥淭o get a specific agreement to partner on commercial nuclear development in Saudi Arabia, that鈥檒l take a little bit longer, that鈥檒l be months, not weeks, but you鈥檙e gonna get there. I think it鈥檚 likely,鈥� he added.
Any nuclear deal would require Saudi Arabia to sign a "123 Agreement" with the US, a legal framework under the US Atomic Energy Act designed to prevent civilian nuclear cooperation from contributing to weapons proliferation.
Stating that the agreement is required, Wright said: 鈥淭hat won鈥檛 happen without that agreement. We鈥檒l need a 123 agreement and a broader, specific framework for how we鈥檙e going to cooperate together and how things will work.鈥�
Saudi Arabia has long pushed for US assistance in developing a nuclear energy program as part of efforts to diversify its economy beyond oil. However, past negotiations stalled due to the kingdom鈥檚 reluctance to agree to US conditions aimed at preventing nuclear weapons development or proliferation.
Trump is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia next month, in a move seen as signaling deepening strategic ties and expanded economic cooperation with the Gulf nation.
By Asiye Latife Yilmaz
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr