Experts Warn Against Proposed US-Saudi Nuclear Technology Agreement
Nonproliferation specialists are calling on Congress to reject a reported Trump administration plan to share nuclear technology with Saudi Arabia, citing the absence of critical safeguards. Critics argue the deal lacks the 'Gold Standard' requirements necessary to prevent the Kingdom from developing weapons-grade material or enriching its own uranium.
The proposal has ignited intense backlash from foreign policy experts who argue that bypassing established nonproliferation protocols undermines decades of bipartisan international security policy. Kelsey Davenport of the Arms Control Association warned that the deal sets a dangerous precedent, while James Acton of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace described the move as an abandonment of U.S. nonproliferation commitments. The core of the criticism centers on the lack of restrictions against uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing—technologies that can be repurposed for military use.
Beyond the immediate nuclear risks, analysts suggest the agreement could grant the Saudi government significant diplomatic leverage. Rosemary Kelanic of Defense Priorities noted that possessing enrichment capabilities might allow Riyadh to demand future security concessions from Washington by threatening to weaponize its program. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), ranking member of the House Foreign Relations Committee, echoed these concerns, emphasizing that any legitimate agreement must incorporate strict limits on enrichment and mandate adherence to the International Atomic Energy Agency's Additional Protocol.
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