US-Saudi civil nuclear pact nears signing without toughest safeguards urged by Democrats
A State Department letter dated May 18 to Democratic Senator Edward Markey says the pact only requires Washington and Riyadh to forge a less onerous "bilateral safeguards agreement."
Assessment
The United States appears ready to finalize a civilian nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia that omits the strictest nonproliferation measures Democrats have pushed for. The State Department's letter confirms the pact will rely on a bilateral safeguards framework rather than the more rigorous International Atomic Energy Agency standard. This raises questions about whether the administration is prioritizing diplomatic and energy goals over long-standing nonproliferation principles. The coming weeks will show whether Congress challenges the deal or accepts the administration's approach.