Is Mohammed bin Salman's Nuclear Gambit a Dangerous Miscalculation?

Politics

Mohammed bin Salman's uranium enrichment push raises proliferation fears amid Middle East tensions.

Agreement allows Saudi Arabia to potentially enrich uranium for civilian nuclear programme.
30-year deal could generate billions for US nuclear industry but raises proliferation concerns.
Lawmakers and experts worry agreement may lower barriers to Saudi weapons development.

Nuclear Power Agreement: The Trump administration has okayed a pivotal civil nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia which would allow the country to enrich uranium for civil nuclear program, many sources report. The deal may become public as soon as Wednesday and is to be sent for congressional approval.

The three-decade-long contract reflects a significant change in the U.S. nuclear policy towards its Middle East ally and will provide U.S. nuclear companies with revenues counting in billions. However, lawmakers from both the political sides have been skeptical of the deal and non-proliferation specialists have expressed concerns it will allow Saudi Arabia to pursue a nuclear arms program. The most controversial provision of the contract is that it would authorize the construction of a uranium enrichment plant on the Saudi territory if the U.S. and Saudi Arabia agree to conduct a feasibility study to determine the necessity of such a plant. Experts note that domestic uranium enrichment creates a lot fewer technological obstacles for creating a nuclear weapon even though uranium enrichment alone is not yet enough for building one.

The exclusion of the Additional Protocol to the International Atomic Energy Agency Agreement in the deal has given rise to more concerns. The exclusion of the Additional Protocol to the International Atomic Energy Agency Agreement limits the inspectors visit to the nuclear sites where they have limited access, thereby making it difficult to monitor and check the situation. Some legislators are alarmed that the deal would push the region further into the nuclear race. Some Israeli officials have expressed worry about how nuclear energy can be easily redirected to military use. Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman has already pointed out that the Kingdom will develop nuclear weapons in the event of Iran's possession of them.

The agreement is signed against the backdrop of rising tensions in the area as the Houthi rebels of Yemen have warned that they would strike against Saudi Arabia that has recently been involved in fighting with Iran and the US forces. The administration of Trump has been quoting Iran's nuclear program as the basis for justifying military involvement, while Iran claims it has been enriching uranium for peaceful purposes. The agreement has to be signed by Congress to be enforced.

Business Honor is of the view that Mohammed bin Salman's nuclear agreement with Trump represents a pivotal strategic shift in Saudi Arabia's regional geopolitical positioning and energy independence.