nuclear-news

USA to sell nukes to Saudi Arabia, despite its weapons ambitions?

The White House’s decision is already facing opposition from members of Congress who worry about sharing nuclear technologies with countries in today’s increasingly unstable Middle East. The concerns were further fueled by recent comments made by a senior member of the Saudi royal family that their country would seek to develop nuclear weapons if Iran did.

U.S., Saudis to Discuss Nuclear Agreement, WSJ, JULY 29, 2011,By JAY SOLOMON,WASHINGTON—The Obama administration plans to resume talks with Saudi Arabia about nuclear cooperation, according to senior U.S. officials, in a move aimed at boxing in Iran and keeping an eye on Riyadh’s strategic ambitions.

A team of State Department and Department of Energy officials is expected to visit Riyadh as early as next week to discuss with senior Saudi officials their plans for pursuing nuclear power, according to people briefed on the trip.

The White House’s decision is already facing opposition from members of Congress who worry about sharing nuclear technologies with countries in today’s increasingly unstable Middle East. The concerns were further fueled by recent comments made by a senior member of the Saudi royal family that their country would seek to develop nuclear weapons if Iran did.

“I am astonished that the Administration is even considering a nuclear-cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia,” said Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R., Fla.), chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, on Friday. “Saudi Arabia is an unstable country in an unstable region, with senior officials openly proclaiming that the country may pursue a nuclear-weapons capability.”….

oncerns in Washington have mounted as a regional rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran has intensified, fueled by the political rebellions that have broken out across the Middle East. Saudi Prince Turki al-Faisal, a former ambassador to Washington, last month told a meeting of British and U.S. servicemen that his country might be forced to develop nuclear weapons in response to Iran’s actions.

“It is in our interest that Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon, for their doing so would compel Saudi Arabia…to pursue policies that could lead to untold and possibly dramatic consequences,” Prince Turki said.

U.S., Saudis to Discuss Nuclear Agreement – WSJ.com

July 30, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics international, Saudi Arabia