Simon Henderson is the Baker Senior Fellow and director of the Bernstein Program on Gulf and Energy Policy at The Washington Institute, specializing in energy matters and the conservative Arab states of the Persian Gulf.
Articles & Testimony
Those who favor helping the Saudis develop their nuclear industry are running up against skeptics who fear Riyadh cannot be trusted with such capabilities.
A nuclear war is in prospect between Congress and the Trump administration. Saudi Arabia wants nuclear power plants for generating electricity and desalination. To access U.S. technology, Riyadh needs to sign a so-called 123 Agreement. There are powerful economic arguments why oil-rich countries like the kingdom need nuclear power. In Congress, however, there is a bipartisan belief—likely reinforced by intelligence briefings on the demise of Jamal Khashoggi—that the mercurial Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman is not reliable...
