ExecutiveOrdersEO
Det 2026-18DeterminationTrump 47 · R Quiet signal

Presidential Determination 2026-18

Presidential Determination on the Proposed Agreement for Cooperation Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy

The President approved a proposed nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, finding it promotes common defense and security without unreasonable risk. The agreement includes two side letters and an additional safeguards/verification measures agreement. The Secretary of State is directed to arrange for execution and publish the determination in the Federal Register.

Federal Register Open PDF 91 FR 47715

Impact dates

  1. 5d ago

    Congressional review period under Atomic Energy Act (30 days of continuous session if no joint resolution; 90 days if opposed)

  2. 35d ago

    Determination signed and approved

Market exposure

Policy exposure mapping — not investment advice. Illustrative public companies are incomplete and not recommendations.

Sectors

Oil & gasDefense primesOther industrial

Mechanisms

LicensingProcurement

Role pressure

  • MixedDomestic producer — U.S. nuclear technology/equipment suppliers gain export opportunity but face nonproliferation scrutiny and potential congressional blockage
  • MixedProject developer — Saudi nuclear program developers may gain U.S. technology access; terms of side letters unknown
  • UncertainTrading-partner exporter — Saudi Arabia as recipient faces uncertain scope of cooperation depending on safeguards stringency

Geographies

USLI

Illustrative public companies

Curated watchlist matches by sector/role — incomplete; not a recommendation.

MMM3MBABoeingCATCaterpillarLNGCheniere EnergyCVXChevronCOPConocoPhillipsXOMExxon MobilFCXFreeport-McMoRanGEVGE VernovaGDGeneral DynamicsHONHoneywellLMTLockheed MartinNOCNorthrop GrummanRTXRTXSHELShellSPYSPDR S&P 500 ETFTSLATesla

Confidence: medium · Policy alerts

Key directives

  • Approve proposed Agreement for Cooperation with Saudi Arabia concerning peaceful uses of nuclear energy
  • Authorize Secretary of State to arrange for execution of the agreement
  • Direct Secretary of State to publish determination in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Presidential approval of 123 Agreement
  • Authorization for Secretary of State to arrange execution
  • Direction to publish in Federal Register

Near term (90d)

  • Congressional review period (30-90 days of continuous session under Atomic Energy Act)
  • Potential congressional resolutions of disapproval

Long term

  • Implementation of nuclear cooperation terms
  • Safeguards and verification measures take effect
  • Potential U.S. nuclear technology exports to Saudi Arabia
  • Geopolitical implications for Middle East nuclear balance

Risks & tensions

  • Congressional opposition likely given Saudi nuclear ambitions and regional proliferation concerns
  • Uncertainty about Saudi enrichment/reprocessing commitments (Gold Standard vs. less restrictive terms)
  • Tension with Israel and Iran over Middle East nuclear balance
  • Side letters not disclosed in text—substance unknown
Presidential Determination 2026-18: Presidential Determination on the Proposed Agreement for Cooperation Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy · Executive Orders