Trump Cool with Saudi Nukes, Israel Unconcerned (For Now)
Donald Trump told The Hill , “I could see that happening,” regarding a US-backed nuclear program for Saudi Arabia. This comes after the Biden administration also explored similar possibilities. Curiously, the usual alarm bells from Washington—especially those concerning proliferation risks and regional stability—are oddly muted when billions in arms deals are on the table for Riyadh. The same
politicians who recoil at Iran's civilian nuclear program, despite its stringent IAEA monitoring regime, now seem ready to equip another non-treaty signatory in the region. One might recall the multi-billion dollar arms deals with the Saudis under various administrations, like the $110 billion package Trump announced in 2017. The silence around Saudi Arabia obtaining nuclear capabilities,
contrasted with the relentless hawkish rhetoric against Iran, highlights a profound double standard. It appears 'existential threats' are less about actual proliferation and more about who's buying what, from whom, and for how much. Perhaps AIPAC's reported $19.9 million in federal lobbying efforts in 2023, primarily focused on Iran-related issues, hasn't quite reached the Saudi nuclear question
yet. Or maybe, when it comes to the U.S. client states, nukes are just really big 'deterrents.'