Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is looking for all the help it can find from the United States to stand up its own, fully-fledged civil nuclear program. Because the Trump administration is very keen on the idea of an arms deal with Saudi Arabia. With the right vision, this collaborative effort has the potential to launch a new era of U.S.-Saudi relations.
The project follows Saudi Arabia’s push to strengthen energy infrastructure as domestic oil demand continues to increase. At a time when the country still imports nearly a third of what it consumes, it makes the case for alternative forms of energy all the more compelling. Saudi Arabia’s new Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is just as enthusiastic. He seriously wants to increase uranium — yes, uranium — production to fuel the nation’s nuclear hopes and dreams.
The kingdom has invested tens of millions of dollars into its joint projects with Chinese partners. Together, they are not only exploring but discovering and mining more uranium deposits. This is a sharp departure from the strong signals of Saudi Arabia’s intent to develop an independent, self-sufficient nuclear program. They further requested direct U.S. support for the construction of a new uranium enrichment facility within their borders. This request is just another piece of any eventual nuclear deal they are negotiating.
In light of regional security dynamics, Saudi Arabia’s pursuit of a nuclear agreement could influence broader negotiations involving Iran and Israel. The kingdom has notably softened its rhetoric toward Iran in recent years, aligning itself with U.S. efforts to contain Iran’s nuclear ambitions through diplomatic means.
Enriching uranium
Permitting Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium remains a huge sticking point. It would move U.S. policy in the opposite direction of its long-held commitment, articulated most recently by President Biden, to preventing nuclear proliferation in perhaps the most contentious geopolitical region. Critics counter that doing so might spur similar corridors from America’s allies and adversaries, as well.
It seems the Trump administration is backpedaling on its promise to take a blank-check approach to nuclear cooperation with Saudi Arabia. According to local media, it has already started to unpack a list of complex requirements that were once attached to nuclear cooperation. Such a shift would make for a much simpler move towards creating the eventual partnership to develop nuclear energy that we’d like to see.
In 2018, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s warning was especially stark. He said that should Iran acquire a nuclear bomb, Saudi Arabia would quickly follow suit with its own nuclear program. Saudi Arabia is approaching its nuclear aspirations with a sense of urgency and seriousness. This point of view is informed by the larger existential threats the region is under.
Meanwhile, the U.S. is apparently very keen to demonstrate its support for Saudi Arabia’s nuclear aspirations. This strategic shift is intended to push back against the increasing influence of China and Russia in the region. These agreements set the stage for high-dollar joint ventures between the American nuclear industry and Saudi Arabia. Collectively, they can build hundreds of nuclear power plants, a potentially thrilling prospect for both parties.
“If the U.S. doesn’t provide it, then someone else will.” – Hasan Alhasan
As negotiations progress, cooperation between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia on nuclear energy could become a pivotal aspect of their bilateral relationship. Details remain to be seen, but the Trump administration should be excited about the prospects for cooperation. As ICG has argued, we need to be attentive to the consequences, particularly with respect to regional destabilization and proliferation concerns.
Saudi Arabia’s strategic push for nuclear power aligns with its broader vision for economic diversification, particularly as it seeks to reduce its dependence on oil revenues.
Takeaway
The kingdom’s leaders are understandably eager to modernize their economy. Through specific initiatives, such as Vision 2030, it seeks to lay the groundwork for a more sustainable and diversified economic environment.
