JNN 31 July 2011 : The Obama administration plans to resume talks with Saudi Arabia about nuclear cooperation, according to senior U.S. officials, in a move aimed at boxing in Iran and keeping an eye on Riyadh’s strategic ambitions.
A team of State Department and Department of Energy officials is expected to visit Riyadh as early as next week to discuss with senior Saudi officials their plans for pursuing nuclear power, according to people briefed on the trip.
The White House’s decision is already facing opposition from members of Congress who worry about sharing nuclear technologies with countries in today’s increasingly unstable Middle East. WSJ
HIGHLIGHTS
Officials from President Barack Obama’s administration plan to head to Riyadh in the coming week for nuclear talks, the sources said. AFP
The U.S. has recently concluded civilian nuclear trade deals — or so-called “123” agreements — with India and the United Arab Emirates and is in advanced discussions with countries including Jordan, Vietnam, and South Korea. CSM
But Saudi Arabia’s interest in such an accord has raised intense suspicions, particularly in the U.S. Congress. WSJ
“I am astonished that the Administration is even considering a nuclear-cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia,” said Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R., Fla.), chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, on Friday.
“Saudi Arabia is an unstable country in an unstable region, with senior officials openly proclaiming that the country may pursue a nuclear-weapons capability.” WSJ
One House staffer who was informed on the administration’s planned talks, but could speak only on condition of anonymity, said, “It’s an unstable country in an unstable region, and — fairly or unfairly — people think 9/11 when they think of Saudi Arabia. It would be an extremely hard sell,” CSM
A spokesman for the Saudi Embassy in Washington declined to comment Friday. The Saudi government has repeatedly said that it is against the development of nuclear weapons. WSJ
FACTS & FIGURES
Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest oil exporter, with one-fifth of the world’s proven reserves. The kingdom says it wants nuclear power so it does not have to burn lucrative fossil fuels at its power plants. AFP
Saudi Arabia has also been pursuing nuclear-cooperation agreements with South Korea, Japan, France and Russia. Riyadh could move to build nuclear reactors without any U.S. involvement. WSJ
Saudi Arabia signed an agreement with the United States in 2008 during a visit by then president George W. Bush that would give the kingdom access to enriched uranium — meaning, unlike Iran, it would not need to master the nuclear fuel cycle. AFP
President Barack Obama signed such a deal with the United Arab Emirates in 2009 that is now viewed by the White House as a model because the UAE committed not to produce its own nuclear fuel. WSJ
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