Ranking Member Shaheen Statement on Reports of U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Deal

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on reports of a nuclear deal between the U.S. and Saudi governments:

“The President has not yet submitted the proposed U.S.-Saudi Arabia civil nuclear cooperation agreement to Congress or provided a detailed briefing on its provisions. Public reporting, however, suggests that the agreement may be missing important protections necessary to ensure that U.S.-supplied nuclear material, technology and equipment are never used to develop a nuclear weapon.

“I am particularly concerned by the apparent absence of a legally binding commitment preventing Saudia Arabia from producing the key materials required to build a nuclear weapon. It is equally concerning that this agreement does not include the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Additional Protocol, which provides the IAEA with inspection and verification authorities, including undeclared areas where proliferation may be occurring. The Additional Protocol has been accepted by 146 countries, primarily due to the leadership of the United States, and is widely regarded as essential to preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.

“I support the expansion of peaceful nuclear power, especially to address climate change. However, given these concerns, Congress should approach the proposed Saudi agreement with great caution. Congress has an obligation to conduct a comprehensive review to examine the agreement's implications for nuclear nonproliferation, regional stability and U.S. national security.”

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