US signs landmark nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia

The United States and Saudi Arabia have signed a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement, the US Department of Energy announced, describing it as a "peaceful" arrangement between the two governments. The department said the deal would give American companies "great access" to Saudi Arabia's nuclear energy programme, opening a new channel for commercial and technical collaboration.

The agreement covers cooperation on nuclear energy development rather than military applications, according to the Department of Energy's characterization of the deal. Officials framed the pact as part of a broader push to deepen ties between Washington and Riyadh in the energy sector, an area both governments have identified as central to future economic cooperation.

The signing adds to a series of recent US-Saudi engagements spanning energy, investment and diplomacy. Analysts will be watching for further details on how the access described by the Department of Energy will be structured, and whether the agreement leads to concrete contracts for American firms in the kingdom's nuclear sector.