The USA is supplying Saudi Arabia with civil nuclear technology? The Kingdom came into the possession of this technology, it could destabilize the entire Region. Also in Israel there is concern.
In a radiant Smile: Saudi Arabia’s crown Prince bin Salman and US President, Donald Trump in a joint Meeting in March 2018
He does it or he doesn’t? US members want to consider whether U.S. President Donald Trump is driving the sales of sensitive nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia. “More whistleblowers” had warned of a possibly criminal conflict of interest, informed the permanent Committee of the US house of representatives on Tuesday. Its members fear that the Kingdom could use the American technology for the construction of a nuclear bomb. This could deepen the tensions between Riyadh and his arch-rival Tehran.
But how big is the step from a civilian to a military use of nuclear energy? Both techniques are connected, “so closely that they can hardly be separated from each other”, – stated in a paper by the Bonn International center for Conversion (Bonn International Center for Conversion – BICC). “With the civilian application of nuclear technology, Knowledge, Material and technology to be gained, even for a military nuclear program.”
However, it does not go to the Kingdom, first and foremost, the military Use of nuclear energy, says Saudi Arabia-expert Sebastian Sons of the German society for Foreign policy (DGAP). The Riad was under considerable economic pressure, as Sons. Saudi Arabia attempts to break free from its economic dependence on oil, its Export contributions still to 80 percent of government revenue. Therefore, the country is trying since a long time, to diversify its energy economy, so Sons in an interview with DW. “There is a massive effort, involving also the nuclear energy plays an important role.” In this connection, you had to rely on the cooperation with other partners, in particular with the USA.
Still, Saudi Arabia’s economy is factor number 1: oil. Look at an oil field East of Riyadh
Saudi Arabia is not currently able to produce nuclear energy without international partners. In General, the country strut, however, as far as possible, independence in this cutting-edge technology. In March 2018, the Kingdom adopted a National nuclear power plan, which provides for the construction of at least 16 nuclear power plants in the next 20 years. “Big state companies like Saudi Aramco, a very crucial role. Aramco would, of course, also in the advancement of nuclear energy with safety one of the major players.”
In an unstable Region
The topic of nuclear energy ensures years of unrest in the Region. Had inflamed them originally on the nuclear program of Iran, at the same time, the biggest competitor of Saudi Arabia in the Region. Since then, the Mullah Regime is committed to ensuring that its nuclear technology to develop, think, the Kingdom of this Option.
After the U.S. announces nuclear deal with Iran, looks at the Iranian government, with a particular distrust to the Riad. The published notice of Expression of the US Senate prompted the Iranian foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif on Wednesday (21.2.2019) to a sharp criticism on Twitter. “First of all, a certain Journalist; now the illicit sale of nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia sheds light on U.S. hypocrisy.”
Reservations also from Israel
Criticism of possible nuclear plans of Saudi Arabia also comes from Israel. Although Riyadh and Jerusalem, motivated by the common opposition to Iran, close to each other. Nevertheless, the nuclear ambitions of the Kingdom in Jerusalem, skeptical. Israel is opposed in principle to an Arab state to bring itself in possession of nuclear technology, says Israeli political Analyst Yoni Ben Menahem, in an interview with DW.
This applies also with regard to Saudi Arabia. “You never know who might take over at some point. Tables of the movements were there in extremis the rudder in the Hand, you could use the civilian nuclear program for military purposes,” says Ben Menahem. In addition, it could bring the presence of nuclear technologies in Saudi Arabia, other countries in the Region, to strive also to this technique. “And that would mean that the Region could enter a nuclear arms race.”
In Saudi Arabia’s neighbouring country, the United Arab Emirates, is already a nuclear power plant in construction
This risk is also middle East expert Sebastian Sons. Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman had declared that his country would have to respond, you should turn to Iran re its nuclear program. “In Saudi Arabia to discuss this Option. See you in the duty, where appropriate, to upgrade.” Should the tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, however, continue to escalate, undermining the stability of the entire Region.
Watch the Video 00:22