Key facts
- House Democrats introduced a resolution of disapproval to block a proposed civil nuclear energy deal with Saudi Arabia.
- The deal was sent to Congress by President Donald Trump in August, initiating a 90-day review period.
- Critics argue the pact does not prevent Saudi Arabia from enriching uranium or reprocessing nuclear waste.
- The Trump administration states the deal includes legally required nonproliferation measures.
- The 30-year deal involves the construction of AP1000 reactors, a project worth tens of billions of dollars.
- It is unclear if the deal is contingent on Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel, as Trump has stated it would be.
House Democrats have raised concerns about President Donald Trump's proposed civil nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia, introducing a resolution of disapproval to block the deal. The pact, sent to Congress in August, is currently undergoing a 90-day review period. Critics, including several Democratic lawmakers and nonproliferation advocates, argue that the 30-year deal lacks sufficient safeguards, specifically by not barring Saudi Arabia from enriching uranium or reprocessing nuclear waste, which could potentially lead to a nuclear weapons program. The United Arab Emirates had agreed to stricter measures, known as the 'gold standard,' in its 2009 nuclear deal with Washington.
The Trump administration maintains that the agreement includes all legally mandated nonproliferation measures. The deal, valued at tens of billions of dollars, involves the construction of AP1000 reactors, which would benefit Westinghouse. There is also uncertainty regarding whether the agreement's effectiveness is tied to Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel, a condition President Trump has stated, though congressional aides suggest the agreement itself does not address this.
While Congress has a history of passing disapproval resolutions on various matters, no such resolution concerning civil nuclear cooperation has ever been successfully enacted. Under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, these agreements automatically take effect after 90 days if Congress does not pass a disapproval resolution.