Saudi Arabia Open to Possibly Developing Nuclear Weapons

[teekay99]

From The New York Times:

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/25/us/politics/saudi-arabia-nuclear-weapons.html

Select article quotes:

An intelligence assessment examined Saudi Arabia’s military ambitions as Congress reviews a new civilian nuclear deal between the U.S. and the kingdom.

A classified intelligence assessment provided to the U.S. Congress asserted that Saudi Arabia has left open the option of developing a nuclear weapon, according to American officials.

The assessment was sent to lawmakers who are looking into the Trump administration’s agreement to help Saudi Arabia develop nuclear power for civilian purposes. Some lawmakers from both parties have expressed concerns about the project, fearing that the kingdom could use it to eventually develop nuclear weapons.

The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss classified material, emphasized that Saudi Arabia has not made any decision to pursue a nuclear weapon.

On one level the assessment is not new. American officials have long assessed that Saudi Arabia remains interested in having nuclear weapons, given that the country has threatened to build them if Iran did so.

A civilian nuclear power program could make that far easier.

The deal between the Trump administration and Saudi Arabia will allow American businesses to help develop nuclear power projects in the kingdom, a move that should boost the U.S. nuclear power industry and ensure that the country’s ties to the United States remain strong.