Saudi Arabia and the United States are in talks to establish a nuclear programme for civilian purposes in the desert kingdom, according to U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright on news channel Al Arabiya.
Wright, currently visiting the capital Riyadh, stated an agreement could be reached this year, emphasising that the programme must not lead to the development of nuclear weapons.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia in May. During the tenure of his predecessor, Joe Biden, the U.S. engaged in discussions with Saudi Arabia about potentially normalising bilateral relations with Israel. These talks were halted following the onset of the Gaza war in 2023.
Saudi Crown Prince and de facto leader, Mohammed bin Salman, remains “highly interested” in such a deal. In exchange, Saudi Arabia seeks American security guarantees and support for developing a civilian nuclear programme. Officially, the Saudis maintain that normalising relations with Israel will only occur when there is a tangible prospect of a Palestinian state.
Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest oil exporter but aims to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, with nuclear energy being part of this strategy.
