Congressional Review Threatens Saudi‑US Nuclear Agreement

Two senior Democrats in the U.S. Senate have taken steps to halt a civilian nuclear cooperation pact between Washington and Riyadh. The joint amendment, filed by Senators Jeff Merkley and Edward Markey, would trigger a Senate vote after the November 29 deadline, providing Congress with an opportunity to impose stricter non‑proliferation safeguards.

Both lawmakers argue that the agreement does not meet the "gold standard" criteria that require the recipient to forgo uranium enrichment and fuel re‑processing. They also point out the lack of an additional IAEA protocol that would give inspectors unfettered access to monitor undeclared nuclear activities.

If Congress does not act to block the deal within the 90‑day review period mandated by federal law, the agreement could become effective automatically, potentially altering the nuclear balance in the Middle East.

Merkley, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, emphasized the need for the United States to demand robust security guarantees before sharing any nuclear technology with Saudi Arabia. "Providing civilian nuclear capabilities without iron‑clad assurances is a risk we cannot afford," he said.

Markey warned that the pact could ignite a regional arms race, noting that it falls short of the rigorous standards applied to the United Arab Emirates’ nuclear cooperation deal, which includes strict limits on sensitive activities. He called on Congress to reject the proposal as insufficient for preventing proliferation.