By Alexandra Sharp
Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at a landmark U.S.-Saudi Arabia nuclear deal, White House threats against Iranian civilian infrastructure, and Ukraine’s new commander in chief.
Have tips or feedback? Hit reply with your thoughts.
U.S. President Donald Trump (right) meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a bilateral meeting at the White House in Washington on Nov. 18.Win McNamee/Getty Images
U.S. President Donald Trump has approved a landmark agreement with Saudi Arabia to help the country develop a civilian nuclear program, the Wall Street Journal first reported. The deal is expected to be formally signed by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Wednesday. Notably, though, the deal reportedly does not include the United States’ usual “gold standard,” which bars partner countries from enriching uranium or reprocessing atomic fuel—both of which can be used to make a nuclear warhead.
The United States and Saudi Arabia have discussed potential nuclear cooperation for years, but progress was slow moving until last April, when Wright traveled to Riyadh to begin establishing a preliminary framework. That outline has since transformed into a 30-year deal estimated to be worth tens of billions of dollars.
Under the reported agreement, which has not yet been released, U.S. companies will play a central role in the development of Saudi Arabia’s civil nuclear infrastructure. Trump administration officials argue that having U.S. companies involved means Washington can exert its influence on Riyadh’s nuclear ambitions, monitor its program to prevent military uses, and shut out foreign competitors that are hoping to gain a foothold in the region.
U.S. and Saudi officials will also conduct a two-year joint study to determine whether the country requires uranium enrichment capabilities. If the study finds that enrichment is warranted, then the pact includes a provision that will allow U.S. businesses to build such a facility in Saudi Arabia under a classified “black box” arrangement that prevents the country from accessing the sensitive technology involved. If the United States rejects moving forward with enrichment, then Riyadh would not be allowed to carry out enrichment by itself or with another foreign ally for 10 years.
The deal delivers big wins for both Washington and Riyadh. For the White House, the pact strengthens a critical bilateral partnership, revitalizes the United States’ own nuclear development, and undermines Chinese and Russian ambitions in the Persian Gulf. For Saudi Arabia, it helps reduce carbon emissions and provides the kingdom with another avenue to meet its domestic energy needs, freeing up more Saudi crude for export.
But many U.S. lawmakers fear that the lack of gold standard constraints could open the door to the further spread of nuclear weapons in an already volatile region. “A President waging war to prevent nuclear proliferation in the Middle East should not facilitate proliferation just because U.S. companies stand to make a profit,” Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman wrote on X on Wednesday.
Saudi Arabia insists that it only plans to use nuclear power for civilian purposes; the kingdom is a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, which requires independent monitoring and inspections of facilities, and it is a signatory of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which commits Riyadh to not developing an atomic bomb.
However, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has previously said that Riyadh would develop a nuclear weapon if Iran does. And in September 2025, Saudi Arabia signed a mutual defense pact with nuclear-armed Pakistan, which later stressed that Islamabad’s nuclear program “will be made available” to Saudi Arabia if it ever needs it.
But the Trump administration appears unconcerned. “Suffice it to say, the U.S. is not going to reach any agreement with any country in the world that leads to the risk of proliferation,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday. The pact is expected to be sent to Congress for review in the coming days.
FP Podcasts |
 |
How can we govern the global AI revolution? |
Artificial intelligence offers great promise—and serious peril if not handled properly. This power is being held by just a few companies, even though we all carry the risks. But is a better alternative possible? How can we ensure AI development is safe and beneficial for all of humanity? From FP in collaboration with the Future of Life Institute comes a new podcast where global leaders ask AI experts urgent questions about this transformative technology and how we can govern it together. Listen on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. |
Bridges, power plants, and more. Trump vowed on Wednesday to attack Iranian civilian infrastructure if the country’s forces continue targeting ships in the region. “From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT, including those located next to, or in, the Capital City of Tehran,” the U.S. president wrote on Truth Social.
The White House has previously threatened to target Iranian power plants and bridges despite legal experts arguing that such attacks could potentially constitute war crimes. And on Tuesday, Trump suggested that he may restart bunker-busting assaults on Iran’s underground nuclear facilities (namely, Pickaxe Mountain) as well as potentially launching military operations against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebel group in Yemen for its blockade on Saudi Arabia.
Rubio claimed on Wednesday that Tehran was not serious about peace talks. “If they’re serious, we’re serious. If they’re not, then we will do what’s necessary to protect our interests and also the interests of our allies,” he told reporters in Manila. Meanwhile, senior Iranian officials accused Trump of being in a “quagmire,” and state media reported that Tehran plans to retaliate against regional infrastructure for Trump’s recent threats.
New leadership. Ukraine’s new commander in chief, Maj. Gen. Mykhailo Drapatyi, pledged on Wednesday to strengthen Kyiv’s military capabilities without making “loud promises,” alluding to the political turmoil that has ensnared Kyiv’s defense establishment in recent days. Drapatyi was appointed on Tuesday after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky bowed to protesters’ demands to fire the previous commander, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, whose rift with former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov was one of the main reasons for the latter’s dismissal last week.
Zelensky has “set clear tasks for us – to continue and strengthen offensive operations in all domains, plan new operations in the enemy’s rear, develop the army and technologies in it, and increase the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” Drapatyi wrote on Facebook on Wednesday. A decorated front-line commander, Drapatyi supports similar strategies as Fedorov, including the importance of drone development, technological advancements, and greater transparency.
Also on Wednesday, European Union ambassadors tried to approve another massive sanctions package against Russia. This one would target Moscow’s banking sector, listing 215 individuals and entities, including 94 financial institutions. However, new fault lines have emerged in the bloc, with Greece refusing to back the package unless the EU agrees to soften restrictions on Russian liquefied natural gas that will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2027. Athens argues that the ban will hurt one of its major shipping firms without having a major impact on Russia’s economy.
Staying offline. France became the first country in the European Union on Tuesday to pass age-based social media restrictions. The ban will prevent children under age 15 from holding online accounts, with exceptions for digital educational tools, and it will extend a prohibition on cellphone use in schools to include high school. The law—passed overwhelmingly by both houses of parliament—could go into effect as early as Sept. 1.
Last December, Australia became the first nation in the world to enact an age-based social media ban. Within a month, French President Emmanuel Macron had vowed to have Paris follow suit. “The emotions of our children and our teenagers are not for sale or to be manipulated, neither by American platforms nor by Chinese algorithms,” Macron said in January. He then ordered French lawmakers to expedite the bill’s approval to have it in place by the start of the upcoming school year.
With Macron expected to conclude his term in May 2027, this law will likely be one of his last major legislative achievements. But while many French parents applauded Tuesday’s vote, early evidence suggests that this type of ban may not be effective, as young people in Australia have managed to remain online.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi appears eager to portray herself as being just like her constituents: working long, hard hours and using her limited free time to tackle household chores. But a social media post on Monday, in which she bragged about her “full five hours of sleep” during Japan’s Sea Day holiday, instead exposed a long-held debate about appropriate work-life balance and the detriments of sleep deprivation; Takaichi claimed to only get zero to three hours of sleep per night since taking office. According to health experts, adults age 65 or older (like Takaichi) should get around seven or eight hours of sleep a night.
No comments:
Post a Comment