US senators move to block Saudi nuclear deal

Two Democratic US senators introduced a resolution seeking to block President Donald Trumps civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia warning that the deal lacks safeguards needed to prevent a nuclear arms race in the Middle EastSenators Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Edward Markey of Massachusetts introduced the joint resolution of disapproval setting the stage for a Senate vote after November 29 before the proposed agreement takes effectThe move marks a new congressional challenge to the administrations nuclear diplomacy with RiyadhUnder federal law Congress has a 90day review period to examine the agreement Unless Congress adopts a resolution blocking it the agreement can enter into force after the review periodMerkley a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said the United States must insist on strong safeguards before transferring civilian nuclear technology to Saudi ArabiaGiving Saudi Arabia access to US civilian nuclear energy technology without ironclad protections to make sure it doesnrsquot provide a foundation for a nuclear bomb is unacceptable Merkley saidWe canrsquot sleepwalk into a decision this consequential he said stressing Congresss responsibility to scrutinise the agreementMarkey went further warning that the proposed arrangement could destabilise an already volatile regionThe USSaudi nuclear deal is about megatons not megawatts he saidHe accused the administration of pursuing an agreement that falls short of established nonproliferation standards particularly by allowing uranium enrichment without requiring the strongest international inspectionsThis deal is the starting gun for a Middle East nuclear arms race Congress must reject it Markey saidThe senators contend that the agreement fails to meet two safeguards they consider essentialThe first is the socalled gold standard for civilian nuclear cooperation under which a recipient country commits not to enrich uranium or reprocess spent nuclear fuelBoth activities can have legitimate civilian applications but also involve technologies that could contribute to the production of nuclear weapons materialThe second is adherence to the International Atomic Energy Agencys Additional Protocol which provides inspectors with broader access and information to help detect undeclared nuclear activitiesAccording to the senators the absence of these conditions could create incentives for other regional powers to seek similar concessionsThey specifically cited the United Arab Emirates whose nuclear cooperation agreement with Washington incorporated stronger restrictions on sensitive nuclear activitiesThe senators warned that offering Saudi Arabia more favourable terms could encourage the UAE to reconsider its existing commitmentsThey also expressed concern that Iran could resist future restrictions on its nuclear programme if Saudi Arabia were permitted to pursue capabilities denied to TehranThe proposed resolution would block the USSaudi agreement if enacted Its introduction does not however suspend the agreement or establish that Congress has rejected itThe initiative follows earlier demands from lawmakers for greater transparency over the proposed agreement including access to two accompanying side letters that the administration has classifiedCivilian nuclear cooperation agreements under Section 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act establish the legal framework for transferring specified nuclear materials equipment and technology to foreign partners They are subject to congressional review because of their implications for nuclear nonproliferation and national securityThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever