According to the Washington Post, a classified U.S. intelligence assessment indicates that Saudi Arabia has not ruled out the possibility of developing nuclear weapons. This comes as Congress reviews a controversial nuclear cooperation agreement reached between Trump and Riyadh, signed in July by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright. This landmark 30-year civilian nuclear cooperation agreement, potentially worth tens of billions of dollars, would place U.S. companies at the heart of Saudi Arabia's nuclear energy development if implemented. Furthermore, the agreement provides a legal framework for the peaceful use of nuclear energy, safeguards, and non-proliferation. However, U.S. congressional leaders are concerned that the agreement lacks sufficient safeguards and deviates significantly from precedent. A group of Democratic senators, led by Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey and Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley, wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday expressing strong concerns. They warned that the agreement would "almost inevitably" grant Saudi Arabia access to uranium enrichment methods and potentially enable it to develop nuclear weapons. Markey was the most vocal critic, calling the arrangement "outrageous." In his view, the U.S. is tacitly approving Saudi demands that conceal a secret intention to preserve a path to nuclear weapons. He also accused some of unelected officials around Trump of engaging in insider deals.
