The Trump administration is encouraging Saudi Arabia to consider bids by Westinghouse Electric and other US companies to build nuclear reactors in that country and may allow the enrichment of uranium as part of that deal, according to three people familiar with the plans. Arabian Business
New York Times editorial: Will the U.S. Help the Saudis Get a Nuclear Weapon?
The last thing the Middle East needs is another country with the potential to build nuclear weapons. Yet that could happen if the United States mishandles Saudi Arabia’s plans to enter the nuclear power business and erect as many as 16 nuclear reactors for electricity generation over 25 years.
The Saudis aren’t saying they want to become the second country, after Israel, to have a nuclear arsenal in the increasingly unstable region. They insist the reactors would be used only to generate energy for domestic purposes, so they can rely on their huge reserves of oil to generate income from overseas.
Still, there are growing signs that the Saudis want the option of building nuclear weapons to hedge against their archrival, Iran, which had a robust nuclear program before accepting severe curbs under a 2015 deal with the United States and other major powers.
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WNU Editor: This issue was first brought up last year .... Trump Considers Easing Nuclear Rules for Saudi Project (Bloomberg). What's my take .... if the Saudis do not buy from the U.S., they will buy from someone else. And yes .... even though this project is focused on producing electricity, the Saudis also want to have the means to develop nuclear weapons if they have to.
More News On Reports That The U.S. And Saudi Arabia Are Trying To Reach A Deal On Building 16 Nuclear Reactors
Rick Perry going to London to hold nuclear cooperation talks with Saudi officials -- Washington Post
U.S. Energy Chief Plans Nuclear Deal Talks With Saudis, Source Says -- Bloomberg
US Pursues Saudi Nuclear Deal, Despite Proliferation Risk -- Wall Street Journal
Will Trump Partner With Saudi Arabia On Nuclear Deal? -- Arianna Nunez, OilPrice.com
Preventing a nuclear meltdown in the Middle East -- Kenneth N. Luongo, The Hill
No to a permissive US-Saudi nuclear deal -- Victor Gilinsky & Henry Sokolski, Bulletin of Atomic Scientist
