Congress urged to scrutinize long-term risks of Saudi nuclear deal

The US Congress is urged to examine the long-term stability implications of a nuclear cooperation agreement signed with Saudi Arabia in July 2026. The deal allows for uranium enrichment on Saudi soil, a capability that could persist for decades regardless of future political changes in the Kingdom.

Critics argue that recent missile and drone attacks on Saudi infrastructure, including the East-West pipeline and Riyadh’s international airport, highlight the vulnerability of the current political system. These security strains raise questions about whether Washington is transferring strategic nuclear capabilities to a government whose future structure cannot be confidently predicted.

The agreement includes a two-year study for commercial enrichment limited to 5 percent uranium, with a black-box model intended to restrict Saudi access to sensitive technology. However, the deal does not require Saudi Arabia to adopt the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Additional Protocol, which provides more intrusive verification measures.

Read the full story at breakingdefense.com.