Inside Saudi Arabia's global push for nuclear power

Despite scruples in Washington, Saudi officials have urged the United States to help them develop nuclear power. But they are also exploring other options, including China.

For years, Saudi Arabia has pressed the United States to help it develop a program power, as Saudi leaders look beyond oil to power their country.

But talks of a nuclear partnership drag on, largely because that the Saudi government refuses to agree to terms that seek to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons or helping other nations to do so, according to officials familiar with the discussions.

Frustrated Saudi officials are now exploring options to work with other countries, including China, Russia or a US ally.

At the same time, they are renewing their momentum with the United States - their preferred partner - by offering to try to normalize relations with Israel in exchange for American cooperation on the construction of nuclear reactors and other guarantees.

New details on Saudi efforts provide a window into recent difficulties and mistrust between Washington and Riyadh, as well as the foreign policy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman seeks: a greater independence from the United States as it expands partnerships with other world powers, including China.

Some analysts say it is part of a strategy to pressure Washington to work with the Saudi government on its own terms; others say the prince sees a multipolar world emerging in which the United States plays a less dominant role. Saudi Arabia also agreed to a diplomatic rapprochement with Iran in March after China acted as an intermediary.

Saudi nuclear efforts raise a proliferation specter that makes some US officials nervous: Prince Mohammed, the kingdom's de facto ruler, has said that Saudi Arabia would develop nuclear weapons if Iran did. Any civilian nuclear program has dual-use components that could help a country produce weapons-grade equipment.

ImageCrown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia has said his country would develop nuclear weapons if Iran did. also believes he has the right to exploit the kingdom's potentially vast uranium deposits for both energy and export. This would create a new source of revenue for the kingdom and could give Saudi Arabia greater geopolitical clout. China is already working with Saudi Arabia on uranium exploration.

Speaking at a conference in Riyadh in January, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, the energy minister, said plans to enrich uranium and produce nuclear fuel - including for export - were even "more important" than the proposed reactors in Saudi Arabia. The Department of Energy said in a statement that the bidding process for two reactors involves "several technology providers" and that it expects to receive proposals soon. officials nervous even if Saudi Arabia's shift to nuclear power would align with the Biden administration's support for low-carbon energy. ..