Washington/Riyadh, Feb. 21 -- The US is moving towards finalising a multi0billion dollar civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, a step that could pave the way for the kingdom to develop sensitive nuclear capabilities, according to concerns raised by the Arms Control Association (ACA), due to lack of any direct safeguards.
The framework, concluded last year between Washington and Riyadh, would allow American firms to compete to build the kingdom's first nuclear power reactors.
It is intended to lead to a so-called "123 Agreement" under the US Atomic Energy Act, which governs transfers of US nuclear technology, materials and equipment abroad. Such cooperation could be worth tens of billions of dollars.
The administration of...