Key facts
- The U.S. and Saudi Arabia have signed a 30-year nuclear cooperation agreement.
- The deal permits U.S. companies to export nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia.
- Concerns exist that the pact could allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium, potentially fueling a regional nuclear arms race.
- Lawmakers warn the agreement could push Iran closer to developing nuclear weapons.
- The deal does not include the "Additional Protocol" for broader inspections, unlike previous U.S. nonproliferation agreements.
The United States has finalized a 30-year nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, a deal that has ignited significant concerns among U.S. lawmakers about potential nuclear proliferation in the Middle East. The agreement, announced Wednesday, permits private American nuclear companies to export to the Saudi market and establishes a framework for U.S. safeguards. However, it has drawn criticism for potentially allowing Saudi Arabia to enrich its own uranium within a decade, a capability that critics fear could trigger a regional arms race and push Iran closer to developing nuclear weapons.
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) argued that the timing of the announcement, amid ongoing regional conflicts, has an immediate effect on the fighting and could push Iran further toward nuclear armament. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) echoed these concerns, worrying about nuclear proliferation not only in the Middle East but also in Japan and South Korea. The deal's potential to enable domestic uranium enrichment by Saudi Arabia is seen by some as a departure from the U.S.'s long-standing nonproliferation policy, which has historically insisted on a "gold standard" no-enrichment pledge from partners.
Critics, including Andrea Stricker of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, warn that the U.S. allowing Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium could open a "Pandora's Box," encouraging other nations like Turkey, Egypt, and the UAE to pursue similar capabilities. Furthermore, the agreement reportedly does not include the "Additional Protocol" with the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog, which provides inspectors broader access to undeclared sites, a key component of previous U.S. nonproliferation efforts. The U.S. administration and Saudi Arabia, however, maintain that the agreement upholds the highest standards of nuclear safety and nonproliferation.
Despite the concerns, blocking the agreement in Congress would be challenging, requiring a veto-proof two-thirds majority. Some officials, like Victoria Coates, believe the risks can be mitigated through close oversight. Others, like Sen. Mike Rounds, are open to the idea depending on the specific enrichment levels, suggesting that if it's for civilian power, it might be acceptable, and better for the U.S. to be involved than rivals like Russia or China, as suggested by Jonathan Panikoff. The agreement is the culmination of nearly two decades of discussions and was initially considered a sweetener for normalizing ties with Israel, a linkage that was later separated.