US to announce nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia

Why in the News?

The Trump administration is preparing to announce a civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia that could include a uranium enrichment facility, drawing bipartisan US Congressional and Israeli non-proliferation concerns.

Key Highlights

1. The proposed 30-year agreement could include uranium enrichment capability for Saudi Arabia.
2. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has stated that Saudi Arabia would pursue nuclear weapons if Iran acquires them.
3. The agreement requires review by the US Congress before it can be finalised.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

1. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is an autonomous international organization established in 1957.
2. It promotes the peaceful use of nuclear energy while preventing its use for military purposes through safeguards and inspections.
3. It is headquartered in Vienna, Austria.
4. India is one of the 180+ member states of the IAEA.
5. In 2025, the IAEA Board of Governors declared Iran in breach of its nuclear non-proliferation obligations, the first such finding since 2006.

New START Treaty

1. New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) was the last remaining bilateral nuclear arms control treaty between the United States and Russia.
2. It placed legally binding limits on deployed strategic nuclear warheads and delivery systems and provided for mutual inspections.
3. The treaty officially expired on 5 February 2026, ending more than five decades of legally binding limits on the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals.

(2018) In the Indian context, what is the implication of ratifying the ‘Additional Protocol’ with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)?

(a) The civilian nuclear reactors come under IAEA safeguards.
(b) The military nuclear installations come under the inspection of IAEA.
(c) The country will have the privilege to buy uranium from the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
(d) The country automatically becomes a member of the NSG.