By Denis Korkodinov
Riyadh began developing a ballistic missile program. Also, the Saudis are working on the creation of nuclear weapons. Such a policy can create grounds for an escalation of the conflict in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf, as well as provoke Tehran response.
Sources say that China is providing direct assistance to Saudi Arabia in the development of a new ballistic missile program. The precision weapons factory is located nearby the Saudi city of Al-Dawadmi. According to the U.S. intelligence, the production of ballistic missile in this plant has been underway since November 2018. However, the Saudis still deny the fact that in their territory are located secret bases where ballistic missiles are not only being developed but also tested.
It is worth noting that Riyadh may be able (if it has not done already) to create nuclear weapons. Otherwise, ballistic missiles without nuclear warheads are a ineffective means of destruction of the enemy, also considering that Tehran already has such missiles. The United States is only speculating about this question for now, but, according to satellite observations, we can conclude that Saudi Arabia is actually conducting nuclear research.
For the first time, Riyadh’s plans to develop nuclear weapons were announced by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in one of his 2018 interviews. Then the heir to the Saudi throne noted that “Saudi Arabia does not want to acquire a nuclear bomb, but, no doubt, if Iran has developed a nuclear bomb, we will follow its example as soon as possible.”
But if in 2018, the nuclear program of Saudi Arabia was fantasy, now it is quite real. Riyadhis close to complete the construction of the first nuclear reactor in the city of Abdulaziz. Assistance is provided by Washington and Israel, whose representatives secretly transferred nuclear technology to the Saudis.
It is worth noting that Saudi Arabia is one of the parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, but, apparently, the international community is rapidly helping Riyadh to withdraw from this treaty.
The Saudis declared their readiness to use nuclear technology in 2015. Then the kingdom was planning to built 16 nuclear reactors in 20 years. Russia offered its help, and already in 2015, the first agreement on the construction of power units was signed between Rosatom, the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation, and Riyadh.
Now, almost openly working on the production of nuclear weapons, the Saudis seek to challenge Tehran. Meanwhile, the plans for the development of ballistic missiles can be aimed also at creating military advantages over Yemenite Hussites, who repeatedly made rocket attacks on Saudi territory.
If this is true, then Riyadh, in the near future, could significantly aggravate the relations between countries and create grounds for the escalation of regional conflicts.
(The views expressed in this article belong only to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of World Geostrategic Insights)
Image Credit: How Hwee Young/Pool Photo via AP, File