US-Saudi nuclear deal raises proliferation concerns in Congress

Concerns are growing over the security implications of a proposed 30-year nuclear deal between the United States and Saudi Arabia. The agreement, which would see Washington transfer nuclear technology to the Gulf kingdom, has now been tabled in the US Congress for review. It comes amid warnings that the plan could intensify fears of a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.

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According to the supporting material, US officials say the deal is intended for civilian nuclear purposes. However, the exact terms have not been made public, and reports have raised the possibility that Saudi Arabia could be allowed to enrich its own uranium. That step is widely seen as sensitive because it can be used in the production of nuclear weapons.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday that the arrangement would not lead to nuclear proliferation, arguing that US contractors would handle the project and allow Washington to monitor it. The proposal has drawn scrutiny because of the wider regional context. Analysts cited in the material warn that any move towards enrichment could encourage other powers in the Middle East to respond in kind.

Saudi Arabia has long said it wants nuclear energy for power generation, but its leadership has also previously linked its position to Iran's nuclear ambitions. In 2018, de facto leader Mohammed bin Salman said the kingdom would develop a nuclear weapon if Iran did the same. The deal also appears to have political and commercial dimensions.

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Westinghouse is believed to be a major contractor on the project, which would place a US nuclear reactor designer at the centre of any civilian programme. The agreement has been sent to Congress, where it is expected to face resistance from Democrats, although the material says it is also expected to survive that opposition. That makes the legislative review an important stage in determining whether the plan advances in its current form.

The debate comes against a backdrop of long-running concern over nuclear technology in a volatile region. Israel has historically opposed neighbouring states acquiring nuclear weapons, and former Israeli defence minister Avigdor Liberman said Saudi Arabia's civilian programme would end in nuclear weapons and trigger a wider arms race. The supporting material also notes broader fears about nuclear safety in the Middle East, including damage to facilities in Iran and a drone strike near the United Arab Emirates' Barakah nuclear power plant.

What remains unclear is the final shape of the agreement, including whether uranium enrichment would be permitted and what safeguards Congress may demand. The public has not yet seen the full text of the deal, and the Energy Department has not confirmed the enrichment reports. The next key development will be the congressional review and any further official clarification from Washington or Riyadh.

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