Many people have asked the question whether Saudi Arabia is considered a nuclear power in recent years! This question is open to debate since the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The country doesn’t have nuclear weapons nor does it have active programs for developing them. The country is working to obtain the technology and other materials necessary to make nuclear weapons and this has attracted much attention ❓ ️ 🇸🇦 …
Saudi Arabia’s motivations for developing nuclear energy have varied. For one the country has long sought to become a regional power and diversify its energy sources ️ 1️⃣. Furthermore, there is concern about regional security due to the proliferation of nuclear weapons and technologies throughout the Middle East .
In 2019, Saudi Arabia and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding to begin negotiations toward a potential nuclear cooperation agreement ️ 🇸🇦. Although this document is nonbinding it could potentially lead to Saudi Arabia acquiring nuclear power technology. Under this arrangement Washington would assist Saudi Arabia develop its civilian nuclear energy program and help meet NPT requirements.
Additionally Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has expressed the country’s desire to acquire nuclear weapons 🇸🇦. These statements have been seen by some as an indication that the country is taking steps towards achieving this goal . However, Saudi Arabia has denied having any intention of developing nuclear weapons 🇸🇦.
At the same time Saudi Arabia has taken steps to acquire the necessary technology for a nuclear weapons program ️ 🇸🇦. In 2010 the country signed a nuclear cooperation agreement with South Korea which would allow the two countries to cooperate in the field of nuclear energy. The agreement includes an agreement for the transfer of nuclear technology, which could be used to develop nuclear weapons. In 2015, Saudi Arabia also signed a nuclear cooperation agreement with the United Kingdom, which includes similar provisions ️ 🇸🇦.
Despite the steps that Saudi Arabia has taken to acquire the technology for a nuclear weapons program, it is unlikely that it will be able to develop a nuclear weapons program in the near future. This is due to the fact that under the NPT Saudi Arabia is not allowed to develop nuclear weapons 🇸🇦. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia is not a signatory to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), which would prohibit the country from testing any nuclear weapons it would develop ️ 🇸🇦.
The restrictions imposed by the NPT and CTBT as well as the fact that the nation has not declared an intention to develop nuclear weapons make it unlikely that Saudi Arabia will become a nuclear power in the near future despite the fact that the country has taken steps to acquire the necessary technology and materials that could be used to develop nuclear weapons ️ 🇸🇦. . .
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