Trump approves Saudi nuclear deal, raising bomb fears
US President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (Photo: Getty Images)
Donald Trump has approved a 30-year nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom will be able to enrich uranium without adopting the "gold standard" of IAEA oversight, according to CNN and the Wall Street Journal.
The agreement is set for 30 years, and American companies will provide Riyadh with technology and expertise. This is necessary for the development of Saudi Arabia's nuclear program.
The White House plans to send the document to Congress immediately after its publication, and there is unlikely to be any problem with its adoption — there will certainly not be enough votes from critics.
Earlier, the Trump administration had delayed this decision. The reasons were concerns about conflict with Iran. There was also a risk of the agreement being blocked by legislators.
Risks and technology controls
Any transfer of nuclear technology to Riyadh is controversial. The ability to independently enrich fuel opens the path to creating weapons, which could destabilize the entire Middle East.
Therefore, the technology implementation process will be phased:
- A joint US-Saudi team will verify the commercial viability;
- American specialists will build the facility themselves;
- Confidential technologies will not be transferred to the Kingdom in the first phase;
- Riyadh is prohibited from developing its own enrichment methods for ten years.
There is also a ban on purchasing similar technologies from third countries. The agreement contains restrictions on inspections, which has already drawn skepticism from US legislators.
Why Riyadh refused the "gold standard"
Saudi Arabia will not sign the Additional Protocol with the IAEA. The reason for the refusal lies in religious and political concerns: the Saudis fear that international inspectors could gain access to palaces or the holy city of Mecca.
Instead, the parties have agreed on bilateral guarantees. They resemble a standard protocol but do not contain provisions that irritate Riyadh. The terms now need to be ratified by the IAEA Board of Governors.
Trump is in favor, but Israel is against
Jerusalem traditionally opposes Arab countries gaining access to nuclear cycles. However, the current situation with Iran and its nuclear program is very complex and unclear, despite US pressure.
Therefore, Riyadh's position remains firm: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman previously promised that the Kingdom would create its own nuclear weapons if Tehran obtains them.
Context of the event
The Trump administration had agreed to allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium without standard international non-proliferation guarantees. At that stage, the document was awaiting Trump's signature.
Rapprochement with the Gulf countries became a key goal of the Trump administration. Last year, he announced agreements with the UAE worth over $200 billion during his visit to the region.
