US intelligence suspects Saudi Arabia may want to build nuclear weapons - WP
Photo: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (Getty Images)
The US Congress has received an intelligence document stating that Saudi Arabia does not rule out the possibility of developing a nuclear weapons program, according to The Washington Post.
Gloomy forecasts from US intelligence have heightened concerns among a number of lawmakers regarding President Donald Trump’s consent to assist Saudi Arabia in creating a civilian nuclear program. They believe this could facilitate the development of nuclear weapons and provoke an arms race in the Middle East.
The Washington Post recalled that the nuclear agreement allows American companies to launch atomic energy projects worth millions of dollars in Saudi Arabia. The Trump administration hopes this will strengthen US-Saudi ties and prevent the kingdom from cooperating with US adversaries such as Russia and China.
"will advance U.S. and regional security by upholding high standards of nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation and strengthening the United States’ competitive edge in civil nuclear technology," the Trump administration stated when announcing the agreement in July.
However, an increasing number of Democratic lawmakers are expressing concerns that the agreement creates an opportunity for uranium enrichment in Saudi Arabia to nearly 20%, which heightens fears about the possible use of some of the nuclear material for military purposes.
Currently, a 90-day review period is underway in the US Congress, and lawmakers can pass a law to block the agreement if they manage to secure sufficient support.
"With this deal, the Trump administration is departing from precedent, adopting looser restrictions, and caving to Saudi demands by agreeing to a process that is all but certain to allow Riyadh to acquire the means to enrich uranium and possibly develop nuclear weapons," a group of Democratic senators led by Senators Ed Markey and Jeff Merkley stated in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday.
According to sources, the State Department contributed to the preparation of classified documents sent to Congress last month. They say the State Department appears more confident in the safeguards provided by the agreement and the guarantees from the Saudi Arabian government.
The Washington Post reports that it has not received direct responses from the Saudi Arabian government, but the Cabinet conveyed earlier statements by Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman. He stated that the program would be peaceful and developed with the highest level of responsibility and transparency.
In turn, the US State Department told The Washington Post that the US does not and will not support a Saudi nuclear weapons program.
What else is important to know
In late August, US President Donald Trump submitted a nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia to Congress for review. The agreement is designed for a 30-year period.
At the same time, media outlets noted that Trump's move would spark months of debate among lawmakers, both to strengthen the US nuclear industry and to curb the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East.
