US Weighs Saudi Nuclear Partnership

Summary

Corey Hinderstein discusses the US consideration of a civil nuclear partnership with Saudi Arabia, weighing strategic benefits against nonproliferation risks. She explains Saudi motivations, including freeing oil for export and keeping a nuclear weapons option. The conversation covers creative black-box enrichment ideas with US technology, the precedent for other nations, and lessons from past dual-use material transfers. Separately, she endorses the expansion of domestic US civil nuclear energy as a positive for energy security and lower emissions, provided safeguards are strong.

• Saudi Arabia has pursued nuclear energy for years, partly to free up oil exports and keep a future nuclear weapons option if Iran acquires one.
• The US wants to be the nuclear partner instead of China or Russia, which could lead to relaxing certain nonproliferation demands.
• A potential creative arrangement would involve US-controlled black-box enrichment technology in Saudi Arabia, with a later decision gate.
• Relaxing enrichment restrictions for Saudi Arabia could set a precedent for other countries and strain alliances with allies like Japan and South Korea.
• Hinderstein warns against repeating past mistakes with dual-use materials, citing the costly recovery of highly enriched uranium and potential risks with plutonium.
• Domestic US civil nuclear energy expansion is seen as a good thing for energy security, lower carbon, and grid demands, but must learn from proliferation history.