Proposed Agreement for Cooperation Between the Government of the United States of America And the Government of the United Arab Emirates Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy

President Bush approved a proposed nuclear cooperation agreement with the United Arab Emirates under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act, finding it promotes U.S. common defense and security without unreasonable risk. The Secretary of State was authorized to execute the agreement and publish this determination in the Federal Register.

Federal Register Open PDF 73 FR 70583

Impact dates

Nov 20, 2008
Federal Register filing of determination

Key directives

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

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Presidential approval of proposed agreement
Authorization for Secretary of State to arrange execution

Near term (90d)

Publication of determination in Federal Register (filed November 20, 2008)

Long term

Implementation of bilateral nuclear cooperation framework
Potential UAE nuclear energy program development subject to further congressional review

Risks & tensions

Section 123 agreements require congressional review period; this determination triggers but does not complete that process
Nuclear cooperation with UAE raised nonproliferation concerns given regional dynamics, though UAE subsequently renounced enrichment and reprocessing
Determination language 'unreasonable risk' is standard statutory formulation, leaving limited transparency about specific risk assessment criteria