President Approves US-Saudi Nuclear Cooperation Agreement
The United States and Saudi Arabia are bound by a new nuclear cooperation pact approved on July 16 2026.
Presidential Determination No. 2026-18, dated July 16, 2026, and published in the Federal Register on July 28, 2026 (FR Doc No. 2026-15273), formally approves the proposed Agreement for Cooperation between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia concerning peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The determination authorizes the Secretary of State to arrange for the agreement's execution.
The approved package includes the primary cooperation agreement, two related side letters, and an additional safeguards and verification measures agreement that will apply to the United States-Saudi Arabia Agreement for Cooperation concerning peaceful nuclear uses. The documents collectively establish the framework for civilian nuclear collaboration, technology exchange, and compliance monitoring.
The President's determination cites subsection 123(b) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2153(b)) as the statutory basis for approval. It explicitly states that the performance of the proposed agreement will promote, and will not constitute an unreasonable risk to, the common defense and security of the United States.
The Secretary of State is directed to publish this determination in the Federal Register, thereby completing the procedural step required for the agreement to become effective. The determination reflects the views, recommendations, and statements of the interested departments and agencies, indicating interagency consensus on the agreement's alignment with national security objectives.
The filing record shows the determination was entered into the Federal Register on July 27, 2026, at 11:15 a.m., under billing code 4710-10-P, completing the administrative process for the United States to move forward with the nuclear cooperation framework with Saudi Arabia.