Saudi Arabia
Country Spotlight
Although Saudi Arabia does not possess weapons of mass destruction, Saudi officials have expressed that they will acquire nuclear weapons if their regional rival, Iran, does. Since its 2015 intervention in Yemen, Saudi Arabia has been the target of missile attacks by Houthi militias.
See Saudi Arabia’s performance in
Region Middle East and North Africa
1987 First believed to have purchased intermediate-range ballistic missiles from China
$15 billion U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system purchased in 2018
2015 Signed small quantities protocol with the IAEA
Nuclear
- Has never openly pursued a nuclear weapons program; intentions to pursue uranium enrichment have caused international nonproliferation concerns
- Plans to construct two nuclear power reactors by 2040
- Agreed to implement the IAEA’s Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement in September 2023
Biological
- Has never pursued a biological weapons program
- 2005 domestic law prohibits the manufacture and storage of biological weapons
Missile
- Possesses intermediate range ballistic missiles, purchased from China
- Established capacity to indigenously manufacture ballistic missiles as of 2021; suspected of expanding its deployed missile capabilities
- U.S. removed missile defenses in 2021 as part of a larger regional drawdown; Saudis possess Patriot and THAAD missile defense systems
Chemical
- Has never pursued a chemical weapons program
- 2005 domestic law prohibits the manufacture and storage of chemical weapons