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WASHINGTON, Sept 18 (AFP) - Saudi Arabia on Thursday strongly denied a report in a British newspaper that it was considering acquiring nuclear weapons.
"Reports that Saudi Arabia is considering acquiring nuclear weapons are baseless and totally false," the Saudi embassy here said in a statement.
The Guardian, a left-wing British daily, reported Thursday that Saudi Arabia has embarked on a strategic review that includes considering whether to acquire nuclear weapons. It said the move came in response to political tensions in the Middle East.
The paper reported, without quoting its sources, that a strategy paper being considered "at the highest levels in Riyadh" set out three options:
-- To acquire a nuclear capability as a deterrent;
-- To maintain or enter into an alliance with an existing nuclear power that would offer protection;
-- To try to reach a regional agreement on having a nuclear-free Middle East.
It was not known whether Saudi Arabia had taken a decision on any of the three options, the Guardian said.
The Saudi embassy here dismissed the report. "Saudi Arabia has long advocated for a Middle East that is free of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons and there is no basis to change current policies," the embassy statement said.
"Saudi Arabia is a signatory to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and other UN conventions on weapons of mass destruction and non-proliferation.
"Reports that the Kingdom is seeking nuclear, biological or chemical weapons are motivated by malice and have no grounding in the truth," the statement said.
Until now, the assumption in Washington was that Saudi Arabia was content to remain under the US nuclear umbrella, according to the paper.
But the relationship between the Saudis and the United States had steadily worsened since the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on New York and Washington.
The Guardian added that the Saudi authorities were unnerved by the possibility of Iran and Israel having nuclear weapons.
"Reports that Saudi Arabia is considering acquiring nuclear weapons are baseless and totally false," the Saudi embassy here said in a statement.
The Guardian, a left-wing British daily, reported Thursday that Saudi Arabia has embarked on a strategic review that includes considering whether to acquire nuclear weapons. It said the move came in response to political tensions in the Middle East.
The paper reported, without quoting its sources, that a strategy paper being considered "at the highest levels in Riyadh" set out three options:
-- To acquire a nuclear capability as a deterrent;
-- To maintain or enter into an alliance with an existing nuclear power that would offer protection;
-- To try to reach a regional agreement on having a nuclear-free Middle East.
It was not known whether Saudi Arabia had taken a decision on any of the three options, the Guardian said.
The Saudi embassy here dismissed the report. "Saudi Arabia has long advocated for a Middle East that is free of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons and there is no basis to change current policies," the embassy statement said.
"Saudi Arabia is a signatory to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and other UN conventions on weapons of mass destruction and non-proliferation.
"Reports that the Kingdom is seeking nuclear, biological or chemical weapons are motivated by malice and have no grounding in the truth," the statement said.
Until now, the assumption in Washington was that Saudi Arabia was content to remain under the US nuclear umbrella, according to the paper.
But the relationship between the Saudis and the United States had steadily worsened since the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on New York and Washington.
The Guardian added that the Saudi authorities were unnerved by the possibility of Iran and Israel having nuclear weapons.
I don't put much stock into anything the Guardian says. I'm sure they have some reports that are credible and true, but it's so hard to discern the good stories from the tinfoil hat ones they publish. But could this be a reality? Could the Saudi's be working to aqcuire nuclear weapons?
Saudi Arabia does not have weapons of mass destruction. It did, however, buy long-range CSS-2 ballistic missiles from China in 1988. More recently, Saudi officials have discussed the procurement of new Pakistani intermediate-range missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads
Concerns about Saudi plans to buy nuclear weapons were raised after Prince Sultan toured Pakistan's secret nuclear facilities in May 1999. The prince toured the Kahuta uranium enrichment plant and an adjacent factory where the Ghauri missile is assembled with Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif and was briefed by A.Q. Khan, the father of Pakistan's atom bomb. The site is so secret that former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto said she was not allowed to go to there during her tenure in office.
IMO, the Saudi's are evil ****ers... more evil than Saddam... but they are our "allies".
I care that they are the biggest supporters of Wahabiism on the planet.
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