Saudi Arabia says it won't rule out building nuclear weapons

[ChineseTiger1986]

Saudi Arabia will not rule out building or acquiring nuclear weapons, the country’s ambassador to the United States has indicated.

Asked whether Saudi Arabia would ever build nuclear weapons in an interview with US news channel CNN, Adel Al-Jubeir said the subject was “not something we would discuss publicly”.

Pressed later on the subject he said: “This is not something that I can comment on, nor would I comment on.”

The ambassador’s reticence to rule out a military nuclear programme may reignite concerns that the autocratic monarchy has its eye on a nuclear arsenal.

Western intelligence agencies believe that the Saudi monarchy paid for up to 60% of Pakistan’s nuclear programme in return for the ability to buy warheads for itself at short notice, the Guardian newspaper reported in 2010.

The two countries maintain close relations and are sometimes said to have a special relationship; they currently have close military ties and conduct joint exercises.

The Saudi Arabian regime also already possesses medium-range ballistic missiles in the form of the Royal Saudi Strategic Missile Force.

In addition it has significant nuclear expertise in the form of a civilian nuclear programme of the kind Iran says it wants to develop.

In 2012 the Saudi Arabian government threatened to acquire nuclear weapons were neighbouring regional power Iran ever to do so.

“Politically, it would be completely unacceptable to have Iran with a nuclear capability and not the kingdom,” a senior Saudi source told The Times newspaper at the time.

The United States and other Western allies say a deal with Iran on its nuclear programme is possible. Iran denies it is building nuclear weapons.

The news comes days after Saudi Arabia launched a military operation in neighbouring Yemen aimed at suppression a rebel group that is attempting to form a central government.

Saudi’s military operation against the advancing Shia Houthi group has been joined by Egyptian, Jordanian and Moroccan forces.

Saudi Arabia says it won't rule out building nuclear weapons - Middle East - World - The Independent

 

[Superboy]

Every country should have nukes. If Yemen has nukes, no one would dare invade Yemen.

 

[rockstar08]

Every country should have nukes. If Yemen has nukes, no one would dare invade Yemen.

If everyone have nukes , we dont have world to live in .... A trip to moon is still expensive ..

 

[Globenim]

It would be easier to just to disarm Israel and remove nukes from the region. It's too unstable to bear such arms.
They are only state there verified to run a military nuclear weapons program and not exactly known for military restraint anyways.

Disarming Israel is a key to prevent a nuclear arms race. So far only hypocrisy and doublestandards of powers backing Israel prevent escalation sparked by Israel. U.S. government silently ignores the facts even when it's official.

 

[ptldM3]

Saudia Arabia has to hire skilled foreigners to works for their oil industries. Saudi Arabia does not have the scientific know how or infrastructure to built a nuclear weapon. The only way they would get a nuclear weapon would be through the assistance of other countries.

 

[Falcon29]

It would be easier to just to disarm Israel and remove nukes from the region. It's too unstable to bear such arms.
They are only state there verified to run a military nuclear weapons program and not exactly known for military restraint anyways.

Disarming Israel is a key to prevent a nuclear arms race. So far only hypocrisy and doublestandards of powers backing Israel prevent escalation sparked by Israel. U.S. government silently ignores the facts even when it's official.

Agreed, US must remove its nuclear weapons staationed in Israel. And disarm Israel of any non-conventional weapons or risk major regional instability. Either remove Israel's weapons or more nations join nuclear race. Because these weapons are needed to protect interests as long as US threatens nations in region. Of course that won't happen, so the Saudi-Iranian rivalry will intensify and destabilize whole region ultimately bringing world to failure , chaos and collapse.

 

[Maira La]

If everyone have nukes , we dont have world to live in .... A trip to moon is still expensive ..

Very shallow, typical "wannabe peace-lover" response. The bomb is one of the reasons the world hasn't gotten into another great war like WWII. If everyone had nukes, there would be no war, theoretically - until unless someone found a way to defend themselves from nukes.

 

[rockstar08]

Very shallow, typical "wannabe peace-lover" response. The bomb is one of the reasons the world hasn't gotten into another great war like WWII. If everyone had nukes, there would be no war, theoretically - until unless someone found a way to defend themselves from nukes.

i am not a Peace-lover , you will experience it on Call of Duty MW3

 

[ArsalanKhan21]

Zionazis have the nuclear weapons for 40 years and nobody complains about them but Iran is an issue. Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey should get them too.

 

[bongbang]

Only Iran should have nukes to counter balance Israel and Saudi threats. Saudis can rely on Pakistani nukes.

 

[JohnyD]

I doubt saudis can...they are rich but not confident and competent like Iranis or Pakistanis to some extent...at the most they can source something from Pak but that too appears to be an impossible task now !

 

[Saif al-Arab]

Saudia Arabia has to hire skilled foreigners to works for their oil industries. Saudi Arabia does not have the scientific know how or infrastructure to built a nuclear weapon. The only way they would get a nuclear weapon would be through the assistance of other countries.

Is that what your relative that cleaned toilets in KSA told you when he returned back to his village and started handling out remittances to all the impoverished people?

This is the year 2015. Not 1950.

As far as I am aware then nuclear technology was first developed by the US after hiring hundreds of experts from abroad, especially from Nazi Germany. Later every single state that built nuclear weapons built nothing new and in many cases their ability to built nuclear weapons happened due to spying on those who already had built it or by hiring foreign nuclear scientists that later taught locals. So this is completely normal.

Secondly it seems to me that you have no clue whatsoever about nuclear energy in KSA. Before 2030 KSA will built 30 nuclear plants indigenously and in cooperation with several countries.

Lastly most of the skilled workers today are locals. The only reason why skilled workers were imported back in the day was due to the low population and rapid growth in KSA that was/is unprecedented outside of Europe. That is not relevant anymore as KSA for instance has the fourth most students at US universities after China (1.2 billion people) and India (1.2 billion people) and South Korea (55 million or so). In fact 150.000 students at US universities.

So I suggest that you stick to matters that you have a clue about.

 

[Steve781]

I doubt they have the technological expertise necessary to build a bomb.

 

[Saif al-Arab]

@ChineseTiger1986

Ironically KSA and China are working closely on the nuclear energy front and signed deals recently. KSA also signed deals with South Korea not long ago.

I cannot post links yet otherwise I would have posted dozens of links dealing with nuclear energy and power in KSA and future plans on this front and local capabilities.

KSA is a secretive state on this front and does not feel the need to make photoshop for the entire world to see when making claims.

 

[denel]

KSA has no infrastructure nor the capability to embark on such a program. They will probably try to buy it like everything else.

Having been to both countries, i can say that Iran is far ahead in terms of education, knowledge and research. Regretfully KSA is 300 yrs behind.

Getting a bomb will prove nothing; you throw one, you get back one. What does it get you... a complete wasted land.

It is a folly effort overall.