Description: According to Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy, the country has moved forward with plans of further uranium production, enrichment and sale activities. The country’s nuclear ambitions remained unclear as Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud confidently noted that development of nuclear weapons is strictly dependent on Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Even though Saudi Arabia has the world’s first multi – unit operating nuclear energy plant, the country has yet to fire up their first nuclear reactor.
Impact: Saudi Arabia’s nuclear ambitions although not directly reported are clearly preventive and dependent on the outcome of the Iranian nuclear program. With negotiations between European countries and Iran in the midst of Trump’s return, Saudi Arabia could potentially position nuclear armament as one of their strategic priorities as a regional player in the Middle East in the mid – term. With heightened military tensions caused by the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, nuclear ambitions could further spell destabilization of the region.