I don’t necessarily agree with this article, but I thought it was interesting.
On Friday, American Greatness posted an article by Fred Fleitz titled, “Why Sharing Peaceful Nuclear Technology with Saudi Arabia and South Korea Strengthens America and Nonproliferation.”
Please follow the link and read the article completely, but here are a few highlights:
The recent U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal, which will allow Riyadh to build nuclear power reactors and enrich uranium for reactor fuel, represents President Trump’s leadership in strengthening and developing America’s relationship with Saudi Arabia and promoting stability in the Middle East. It is also a long-overdue modernization of how the United States should share peaceful nuclear technology with trusted partners and will deliver major wins for U.S. industry. Like the nuclear deal with South Korea, the Saudi deal keeps sensitive nuclear technology under American influence rather than ceding it to rivals.
Both nuclear deals are a matter of trust. South Korea is a model member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and an ironclad U.S. ally. Saudi Arabia is a critical partner in a volatile region. By moving forward with these agreements, the United States is demonstrating confidence in close partners that have repeatedly proven their reliability.
Saudi Arabia is seeking peaceful nuclear power to diversify its energy mix, free up oil for export, and support its broader economic transformation. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia have signed agreements that position American firms—led by companies such as Westinghouse with its AP1000 reactors—to design, build, and help operate those plants. This is a multi-decade, multi-billion-dollar opportunity. U.S. companies will construct the reactors and related infrastructure on Saudi soil. American technology, engineers, and supply chains will be at the center. High-paying jobs and industrial capacity will be created in the United States.
This deal also locks out Russia and China from spreading their less reliable nuclear technology with weaker safeguards.
The article concludes:
Critics are naturally raising concerns that these agreements will undo U.S. agreements and policies that have successfully restricted the spread of nuclear technology with weapons applications. Such critics include many Democrats as well as some Republicans. This criticism is ironic given that the Biden administration unsuccessfully tried to negotiate a similar arrangement with Saudi Arabia. Moreover, criticism that the Trump nuclear deals pose unacceptable proliferation threats ignores the fact that there are other, less scrupulous players standing ready to sell nuclear technology with little or no proliferation protections. The alternative to U.S.-led cooperation is not nuclear-free regions; it is regions in which others set the terms.
The Trump nuclear deals with Saudi Arabia and South Korea represent a modernized and pragmatic path forward with both nations. They deserve strong congressional support.
I totally respect Fred Fleitz’s opinion. His biography on the internet lists his achievements:
Fred Fleitz is former Chief of Staff of the Trump National Security Council and a Deputy Assistant to President Trump. He served for 25 years in US government national security positions for 25 years with the Central Intelligence Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Department of State, and the House Intelligence Committee staff.
I just don’t know if I trust Saudi Arabia or if I believe South Korea will remain independent.