Washington, D.C. – April 25, 2018 – The Partnership for Global Security (PGS), a leading policy and research organization with a history of offering innovative solutions to global nuclear security challenges, today announced it has joined a group of prominent, bipartisan non-proliferation advocates in calling for a pragmatic agreement with Saudi Arabia to develop its nuclear energy sector while preventing the spread of nuclear weapons in the Middle East.
The twenty-four policy experts today sent a letter to Congressional leaders in which they stated their strong opposition to the proliferation of nuclear weapons and weapon-usable materials in the Middle East and encouraged the United States to conclude a nuclear cooperation agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that “erects effective barriers to prevent the misuse of civil nuclear power for nuclear explosive or military purposes, but does not seek to impose conditions that the Saudis will ultimately reject.”
The letter marks the first time that leading, bipartisan experts in non-proliferation have joined together on a major policy statement about nuclear development and security that recognizes the new nuclear realities of the 21st Century.
Ken Luongo, President of PGS, said: “This letter underscores the vital importance of preventing nuclear proliferation and an arms race in the Middle East while nations in that region move forward with nuclear power programs to meet their energy and environmental goals. The most pragmatic way to prevent weapons potential in Saudi Arabia is to deeply engage that nation in the web of U.S. non-proliferation conditions and controls through a nuclear cooperation agreement. This approach will serve U.S. national security objectives and global non-proliferation goals. Failure to conclude an agreement with the U.S. will allow another nation to be the primary nuclear partner with Saudi Arabia for the remainder of this century – and it may be one that does not demand the same rigorous non-proliferation controls as the U.S.”
The letter is available here. Download press release here.
Notes to Editors
Kenneth Luongo is a recognized international leader in nuclear and transnational security policy. He is the President of the Partnership for Global Security and leads the Global Nexus Initiative, which explores the interrelationships between climate change, nuclear energy and global security. He has authored nearly 100 articles and briefed audiences around the world on global security challenges.
Mr. Luongo previously served as the Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Energy for Nonproliferation Policy and as the Director of the Office of Arms Control and Nonproliferation at the U.S. Department of Energy. He also served as the Director of the Department of Energy North Korea Task Force and as Director of the Russia and Newly Independent States Nuclear Material Security Task Force under the Clinton Administration.
Contacts
Kenneth Luongo, President, Partnership for Global Security, kluongo@partnershipforglobalsecurity.org
Richard Mahony, Mahony Partners | Risk Communications, richard@mahonypartners.com
