US Senate vote on Saudi nuclear pact expected in December

US senators are expected to vote in December on a proposed agreement between Washington and Saudi Arabia that would allow the kingdom to pursue a civilian nuclear energy programme with US assistance.

Democratic senators say the vote would give Congress an opportunity to examine the potential implications of the agreement, including concerns about nuclear proliferation and the possibility of an arms race in the Middle East.

Senator Jeff Merkley said the Senate would have an opportunity to exercise its statutory responsibility by reviewing the potential impact of the agreement on global nuclear nonproliferation efforts.

Merkley is working with four other Democratic senators to seek a vote on December 13.

The United States and Saudi Arabia reached an agreement in July on nuclear cooperation aimed at establishing a civilian nuclear programme in the kingdom. The arrangement has attracted scrutiny because of the broader regional security environment and concerns about the potential expansion of nuclear capabilities in the Middle East.

Shortly after the agreement was announced, US President Donald Trump said Saudi Arabia would first need to normalise diplomatic relations with Israel. Riyadh has not publicly commented on the condition.

The proposed US-Saudi nuclear cooperation comes as Washington continues its confrontation with Iran, with US officials arguing that Tehran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.

The Senate vote could therefore become part of a wider debate over nuclear nonproliferation, regional security and the future of civilian nuclear energy cooperation in the Middle East.