The U.S. should be flexible in negotiations with Saudi Arabia about providing nuclear reactors because two adversaries are also competing for the role, Energy Secretary Rick Perry told lawmakers Thursday.
Russia and China are interested in partnering with Saudi Arabia as it tries to develop civil nuclear energy to shift away from oil, and neither country is likely to restrict the Saudis from using the technology to make nuclear weapons, Perry testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
“I am very confident that the prior two have no requirements of nonproliferation, so I think it’s really incumbent upon us to sit down, to work as closely with the kingdom,” he said. “I think it’s important for us to negotiate in a really good and a powerful way, but recognizing that the alternative of who they’re going to be doing business with is of great concern to me.”
The testimony comes after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited the White House this week and discussed a nuclear energy agreement with President Trump. Perry also traveled to the U.K. in February to discuss a possible deal.
Democrats on Capitol Hill are concerned that Perry and the Trump administration might try to exempt the Saudis from Section 123 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act, which bars countries that receive American nuclear technology from using it to enrich uranium for weapons.
Under questioning, Perry said the U.S. negotiations should be aimed at “having those additional protocols and the International Atomic Energy Agency with their ability to go in and make sure they are in fact not involved in any activities untoward.”
The act has been used in treaties with 48 countries, including key allies such as Japan, and the IAEA provides safeguards to ensure signatories comply, according to the Arms Control Association.
“There’s indications that there may be a waiver of the traditional standard we insist upon, which is no nuclear enrichment, the so-called gold standard. In fact, we have an arrangement with the UAE, the Emirates, in which they have to adhere strictly to the gold standard,” said Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., the Senate Armed Services ranking member. “If such a deal was proposed where the Saudis would not be liable to and required to adhere to the standard, I would oppose it and I think many others would to.”
