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USA’s problem with Jordan’s nuclear power plans

Jordan’s Nuclear Ambitions Pose Quandary for the U.S. WSJ.com – By JAY SOLOMON SAWAQA, Jordan—The Kingdom of Jordan is in a sprint to become the Arab world’s next nuclear power. And America wants to help it succeed. U.S. and Jordanian officials are negotiating a nuclear-cooperation agreement that would allow American firms to export nuclear components and know-how to the Mideast country, America’s closest Arab ally in the volatile region…. it’s a partnership that puts the Obama administration in a bind: It is trying to make good on its pledge to promote greater civilian use of atomic energy, without angering Israel and risking a Mideast arms race.

The deal has catches for the Jordanians, too: The U.S. is demanding that Amman not produce its own nuclear fuel. That’s a right Jordan enjoys as a signatory to the United Nations key nonproliferation treaty—and is reluctant to surrender, thanks to its recent discoveries of big deposits of uranium ore………ordan is among a slew of Arab countries, including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, that are seeking to become among the first Mideast countries to develop a civilian nuclear-power industry. Israel is the lone country in the region believed to possess atomic weapons, but it hasn’t moved to build nuclear power plants……….

A key to achieving King Abdullah’s ambitions, however, remains the cooperation agreement with the U.S., say Jordanian officials.

They say it could prove difficult to secure some of the core technologies for their nuclear infrastructure without the Obama administration’s seal of approval. The U.S. is a leading player in the Nuclear Suppliers Group, a Vienna-based body aimed at controlling the flow of nuclear technologies internationally. Many reactors from France, Japan and Canada contain significant U.S. components and would require Washington’s approval for a sale.

Jordan’s Nuclear Ambitions Pose Quandary for U.S. – WSJ.com

June 14, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | MIDDLE EAST, politics international | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear technology, nuclear weapons, reactors