A dozen Democratic lawmakers urge Secretary of State Rubio to secure ‘gold standard’ non-proliferation terms in any US-Saudi nuclear power agreement.

WASHINGTON: A dozen Democratic US lawmakers have urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to push for the strictest possible non-proliferation protections in any nuclear power technology agreement with Saudi Arabia.

In a letter, the lawmakers called for a pact that meets the “gold standard,” consistent with longstanding bipartisan consensus. This includes preventing Saudi Arabia from enriching uranium or reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, which are potential pathways to weapons development.

The Trump administration informed congressional committees in November it was pursuing a civil nuclear pact without these specific safeguards. A draft of the agreement, known as a 123 Agreement, aims to place US industry at the heart of Saudi Arabia’s nuclear development.

However, the draft reportedly opens the door for potential Saudi enrichment by referring to “additional safeguards and verification measures” for sensitive areas of cooperation. “We urge you to immediately reconsider these plans,” wrote the lawmakers, including Senators Ed Markey and Jeff Merkley.

The State Department said it could not discuss specific details but stated the draft reflects a shared commitment to strong nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation standards. The administration could submit the final agreement to Congress soon, though the timing remains unclear.

Once submitted, Congress would have 90 days to pass a resolution of disapproval from both chambers to block the deal. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has previously stated the kingdom would seek nuclear weapons if its regional rival, Iran, did so.

 The Sun Malaysia