US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi counterpart Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman have signed the cooperation agreement, according to the US Department of Energy.
Wright said in a written statement that the agreement complies with the rules on nuclear safety and non-proliferation agreements.
The United States also says that the agreement involves cooperation on nuclear energy issues for "coming decades" and that it concerns "many billions of dollars."
The agreement will now be sent to the US Congress for review, according to the statement.
Wright also praises President Donald Trump for his initiative to develop nuclear energy: “The American nuclear renaissance is now underway thanks to President Trump.”
Concerns about the cooperation include possible opportunities for Saudi Arabia to manufacture nuclear weapons in the future, and that the country will be able to enrich uranium with support from the United States.
Middle East expert Rosemary Kelanic told the British BBC in connection with the negotiations that "the United States has never done this before, and has never helped another country enrich (uranium) on its own territory."
"If a country can produce nuclear fuel, the risk is much greater (that the country produces nuclear weapons)," said Kelanic at the American think tank Defense Priorities.
