Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives expressed concerns on Thursday regarding President Donald Trump's nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia and announced that they have passed a resolution to prevent the implementation of this agreement.
Details of the Agreement and Reactions
President Trump sent this proposed agreement to Congress in August, allowing lawmakers a ٩٠-day period to comment on it and, if necessary, to introduce a resolution of disapproval.
Democrats and supporters of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons have criticized this agreement for not preventing Saudi Arabia from enriching uranium and processing nuclear waste, both of which are potential pathways to nuclear weapons. The United Arab Emirates adhered to such measures known as the "gold standard" in its nuclear agreement with Washington in ٢٠٠٩.
Concerns About the Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
Four Democrats, including Greg Meeks, a representative from New York and chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Brad Sherman and John Garamendi from California, and Don Beyer from Virginia, stated in a statement: "A region currently embroiled in conflict and escalating tensions does not need another nuclear power."
The Trump administration has stated that this agreement includes non-proliferation measures that are legally binding. However, it is unclear whether Saudi Arabia can achieve this agreement without normalizing relations with Israel. Trump has said that this agreement will only be implemented if Riyadh takes steps to normalize relations, but congressional aides say that nothing in the agreement refers to this issue.
Members of Congress have also called for the release of all details of this agreement, including classified "side letters" that have been agreed upon with Saudi Arabia. The timing of the House vote on this resolution is still unclear. Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the House, sent members of Congress home until after the midterm elections on November ٣.
Additionally, while Congress has passed multiple resolutions of disapproval over the years, none of the resolutions regarding nuclear energy or civilian nuclear cooperation have ever successfully passed through Congress.
According to Section ١٢٣ of the Atomic Energy Act of ١٩٥٤, peaceful nuclear cooperation agreements automatically go into effect after ٩٠ days unless Congress passes a resolution of disapproval.
Read more: Macron Hosts Security Talks Between Lebanon and Jordan in Paris
