Rubio defends proposed nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia amid proliferation concerns

The Trump administration is expected to sign an agreement with Saudi Arabia as early as Wednesday that could potentially provide the kingdom with uranium enrichment capability for its civilian nuclear programme Secretary of State Marco Rubio says any deal signed by the US would not lead to proliferationThe deal confirmed to The Associated Press by two people familiar with the decision who were not authorised to discuss details and spoke on condition of anonymity could allow for the building of a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia after a joint USSaudi studyThough he wouldnt confirm the deal Rubio sought to head off emerging criticism of the decision under questioning by reporters about the risk that helping the Saudis fulfill their longstanding desire to enrich their own uranium could lead to new rounds of nuclear proliferation and competition in a volatile regionThe US is not going to reach any agreement with any country in the world that leads to the risk of proliferation said Rubio who was travelling in the Philippines on WednesdayThe agreement is not expected to include the International Atomic Energy Agencys Additional Protocol which would allow for more monitoring inspections and verification according to one of the people familiar with the decisionThe deal expected to last 30 years and involve US firms in developing the programme is expected to be submitted for review to Congress where it could face oppositionThe expected announcement comes during the war against Iran launched by the US and Israel in part to wipe out Tehrans ability to develop a nuclear weapon Iran has insisted its nuclear enrichment programme is peacefulThe White House and Saudi officials in Riyadh did not immediately respond to multiple requests for comment on the decision which was first reported by The Wall Street JournalAlexander Bollfrass a nuclear expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London called the deal a revolutionary new approach to nuclear nonproliferation policyThe revolutionary aspect of this agreement is that the United States is not asking Saudi Arabia to abide by the highest possible safeguards internationally monitored safeguards that are standard and are available today but instead is willing to at least theoretically transfer highly sensitive technology without the same level of oversight that one would expect Bolfrass saidBoth President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden tried to reach a nuclear deal with the kingdom to share American technologyNonproliferation experts warn any spinning centrifuges within Saudi Arabia could open the door to a possible weapons programme for the kingdom something its assertive de facto leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has suggested he could pursue if Tehran obtains an atomic bombEnergy Secretary Chris Wright travelled to Saudi Arabia last year shortly before Trump visited the kingdom and discussed building out the kingdoms commercial nuclear power industry with his Saudi counterpart The US Department of Energy also has not responded to multiple requests for commentAlready Saudi Arabia and nucleararmed Pakistan signed a mutual defence pact after Israel launched an attack on Qatar targeting Hamas officials Pakistans defence minister then said his nations nuclear programme will be made available to Saudi Arabia if needed something seen as a warning for Israel long believed to be the Middle Easts only nucleararmed stateEnrichment isnt an automatic path to a nuclear weapon a nation also must master other steps including the use of synchronised high explosives for instance But it does open the door to weaponization which has fuelled the Wests concerns over Irans programmeThe United Arab Emirates a neighbour to Saudi Arabia signed what is referred to as a 123 agreement with the US to build its Barakah nuclear power plant with South Korean assistance But the UAE did so without seeking enrichment something nonproliferation experts have held up as the gold standard for nations wanting atomic powerThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever