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Arab nations likely to develop nuclear weapons

This is causing unease in Washington …….The Americans have sought to ensure that none of the Arab states will seek to enrich uranium to weapons-grade level.

Ready to Churn out Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Weapons: Arab States « international environmental law, 17 July 2010, Saudi Arabia’s decision last week to sign a nuclear cooperation pact with France marks a major step forward for a pan-Arab drive toward nuclear power, even as the United States strives to rein in Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Jordan is talking with Areva of France and Mitsubishi of Japan, among other companies, to acquire the technology required to build the Hashemite kingdom’s first nuclear power generating plant.

Earlier this month, the United Arab Emirates, which is the Arab state furthest down the path of developing nuclear energy, issued licenses to the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corp. to start preparing a site for a nuclear power facility. In December, the Emirates awarded a South Korean consortium a $20.4 billion contract to build and operate four 1,400-megawatt nuclear power plants. All told, 13 Middle Eastern states, including Egypt, have announced plans — or dusted off old plans — to build nuclear power stations since 2006.
This is causing unease in Washington ……….All say they have no intention of seeking to develop nuclear weapons. But there is concern that once they’ve mastered the technology they’ll seek to counter Iran’s alleged push to acquire such weapons by doing so themselves…..The Americans have sought to ensure that none of the Arab states will seek to enrich uranium to weapons-grade level.  But in June, David Cox, assigned by Riyadh to evaluate the economic and technical feasibility of Saudi involvement in all stages of the nuclear cycle, was quoted as saying the Saudis would want to be involved in as many stages of the nuclear power cycle as possible.
…..Washington will be uneasy with the Saudis opting for French nuclear assistance rather than American,….Washington is at odds with longtime ally Jordan because it plans to exploit large uranium deposits it recently discovered in the desert. The Americans see that as a proliferation risk.

Ready to Churn out Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Weapons: Arab States « international environmental law

July 17, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | MIDDLE EAST, politics international | antinuclear, enriched, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear weapons, radiation, reactors, uranium