Trump signs nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia… Concern increases in the Middle East regarding uranium enrichment and security measures…

US President Donald Trump has approved a new nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia. This is being considered a major diplomatic victory for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, however, the lack of stringent security and safety systems in this agreement has raised deep concerns among experts around the world. Critics believe that the framework does not provide sufficient checks-and-balances to prevent uranium from becoming a weapon.

Former senior State Department official Robert Einhorn said that this agreement can help promote the American nuclear industry and keep Russia and China away from this market, but unless necessary restrictions are imposed on enrichment, it can significantly increase the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East.

Denial of ‘gold standard’ and inspection

According to the report, Riyadh has flatly refused to accept the “gold standard” commitment to permanently abandon domestic uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing, which was accepted by the neighboring UAE. Additionally, Saudi officials have also rejected the UN nuclear watchdog agency’s “Additional Protocol”, which calls for stricter surveillance and verification measures.

American companies gain billions, strategic risks remain

Under this agreement, American companies are expected to get billions of dollars from Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure projects in the coming time. Under the agreement, Washington and Riyadh will jointly conduct a two-year assessment of whether domestic uranium enrichment within the Kingdom is commercially viable. If the report is positive, American companies will prepare enrichment sites there.

On the other hand, foreign policy experts say that America has made this deal at a time when no mutual strategic exemption with Riyadh or condition for establishing formal relations with Israel has been attached. Experts also believe that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has already made it clear that if Iran acquires nuclear weapons, Saudi Arabia will not be left behind. In such a situation, giving nuclear technology to Riyadh without strict safety guards could prove to be a big risk for regional stability.