U.S. Nuclear Cooperation in an Era of Strategic Competition
As geopolitical competition reshapes global energy, security, and economic relationships, international nuclear cooperation is taking on renewed strategic importance.
Several U.S. civil nuclear cooperation agreements under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act are currently pending or are expected to come before Congress. On July 22, 2026, the United States and Saudi Arabia announced a 123 agreement that would support the Kingdom’s nuclear energy program, pending congressional review and implementation. These agreements offer an opportunity to examine how U.S. nuclear cooperation can advance national security, strengthen alliances, support economic competitiveness, and reinforce global nonproliferation objectives in an increasingly complex international environment.
In partnership with the Nuclear Energy and National Security Coalition (NENSC), CFTNI hosted a topical webinar on July 31, 2026. The conversation explored the opportunities, risks, and broader foreign policy considerations surrounding future 123 agreements, underscoring the strategic significance and urgency of this discussion. Panelists also considered what principles should guide U.S. nuclear cooperation policy as global strategic competition continues to evolve.
PROGRAM
Welcome and Opening Remarks
- Hon. Daniel B. Poneman, NENSC Co-Chair and former Deputy Secretary of Energy
Expert Panel: Opportunities, Risks, and the Future of 123 Agreements
- Moderator: Jay Tilden, Executive Director, NENSC
- Corey Hinderstein, Vice President for Studies, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
- Paul Saunders, President and CEO, Center for the National Interest
Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks
- Paul Saunders, President and CEO, Center for the National Interest
About CFTNI
The non-partisan Center for the National Interest (CFTNI) works to define and prioritize U.S. national interests and to assess how best to advance American interests in a complex and competitive world; it also publishes the highly regarded online magazine The National Interest.
About NENSC
The Nuclear Energy and National Security Coalition (NENSC) is an independent organization of leading national security experts dedicated to leveraging U.S. nuclear energy to advance U.S. national security interests. For more information, visit nensc.org.