There is contentious debate over Saudi Arabia’s intentions in developing a nuclear power program and potential civil nuclear cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the U.S. While advocates of the Saudi nuclear program and U.S.-Saudi nuclear cooperation argue that the Saudis have legitimate interests in pursuing nuclear power—particularly considering its growing population, surging energy demand, and overreliance upon oil and gas—and that other countries will fill the void if the U.S. does not supply nuclear technology, skeptics of Saudi nuclear activities generally view acquisition of any nuclear technology by Saudi Arabia as overly risky considering the region’s geopolitical dynamics and would seek to force the Saudis to accept the “gold standard,” or forswearing of enrichment and reprocessing technologies, in any 123 Agreement with the U.S. However, the presence of other nuclear suppliers that would not impose ENR restrictions on Saudi Arabia makes it highly unlikely that Riyadh would accept such provisions. If the U.S. is to have any channel or pathway in shaping the future of nuclear power in Saudi Arabia, an agreement must be concluded, one that may have to include compromise clauses such as time-limited and/or conditional ENR restrictions.
