Washington – The Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies has called on the United States Congress to immediately block any civil nuclear cooperation agreement that would ease non-proliferation standards in dealings with Saudi Arabia.

In a policy brief authored by Andrea Stricker, a research fellow specialising in non-proliferation and biodefence, the institute warned that Washington must not dilute longstanding safeguards in pursuit of a nuclear arrangement with Riyadh. The analysis argues that permitting Saudi Arabia access to sensitive aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle — particularly uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing — without a legally binding renunciation would significantly weaken global non-proliferation norms.

Stricker cautioned that relaxing standards for Saudi Arabia could create a dangerous precedent, undermining the credibility of the United States’ long-standing “gold standard” agreements that prohibit enrichment and reprocessing. She further warned that granting Riyadh advanced nuclear capabilities without the most stringent verification mechanisms could heighten proliferation risks in an already unstable region.

The brief urges Congress to assert its oversight authority and ensure that any prospective agreement includes permanent and enforceable restrictions, alongside full transparency and enhanced monitoring under international inspection regimes.

The intervention adds to growing scepticism within Washington over proposals that critics argue prioritise diplomatic or commercial considerations over hard security guarantees. Opponents maintain that easing restrictions for Saudi Arabia risks eroding the global non-proliferation architecture and fuelling regional strategic competition.

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