Arab Interest in Nuclear Technology Raises Concerns

A group of Arab nations has agreed to look into developing nuclear technology, raising concerns among some experts of a Middle Eastern nuclear arms race, Reuters reported yesterday (see GSN, Nov. 16; Reuters/Khaleej Times, Dec. 14).

At a meeting last weekend, the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council ordered “a GCC-wide study be conducted to formulate a joint program in the field of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, in keeping with international standards and regulations,” said a communique.  The council consists of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (Raid Qusti, Arab News, Dec. 11).

The move could be a result of the continuing dispute over Iran’s nuclear ambitions (see related GSN story, today), as well as long-standing Arab concerns over Israel’s nuclear capabilities (see GSN, Dec. 14), said some nonproliferation experts.

“Proliferation of any kind of nuclear technology raises the specter of some sort of nuclear arms race,” said Robin Hughes, deputy editor of Jane’s Defense Weekly.

While the GCC communique asserts the study is peaceful, “it’s clear from the context the region is involved in a nuclear race,” said Adel al-Harby, political editor of the Saudi newspaper al-Riyadh.

The question of intentions is key to assessing the weapons proliferation risk, added senior diplomats in Vienna.

“If the GCC states just want nuclear power reactors, that’s no problem.  No state has ever used power reactors to yield nuclear weapons,” one diplomat said.

“No one can give a definitive answer on the motivation of the GCC, but I don’t think it’s too difficult to understand,” said another diplomat.  “With Iran defiant and … Israel defiant … it’s only logical that the other states of the region would feel threatened” (Reuters/Khaleej Times).

GCC officials sought to ease potential concerns of neighboring states.

“It is not a threat,” said Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal.  “It is an announcement so that there will be no misinterpretation of what we are doing.  We are not doing this secretly.  We are doing it openly.”

“We want no bombs,” he added.  “Our policy is to have a region free of weapons of mass destruction” (Qusti, Arab News).

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