Topic: Recommendations for the 2015 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review
Country: Saudi Arabia
Delegate Name: Zoe Bair
School: East Grand Rapids High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Saudi Arabia position papers GLIMUN 2014 committees
Saudi Arabia believes that more action should be taken to stop the production of nuclear weapons and that nuclear power should only be used for helpful purposes. Saudi Arabia has not yet signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) because they want to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes such as agriculture, medicine, industry and research. The National Atomic Energy Research Institute (AERI) in Saudi Arabia was established in 1988 and is used to find helpful ways to harness nuclear energy that will help, not hurt, people. For example, Saudi Arabia is studying ways to use nuclear energy to desalinate drinking water. Even if Saudi Arabia wanted to, they do not have the natural resources, capacity, or advanced technology to develop nuclear weapons. Although Saudi Arabia has allegedly purchased nuclear weapons on previous occasions, it is purely for the sake of deterrence. They have signed an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) saying that all nuclear materials they have are for peaceful uses.
In addition to reducing the nuclear threat, Saudi Arabia feels that the best way to ensure a safe future is to strengthen international peace. In the Middle East, there are many conflicting ideas about the ownership and possible use of nuclear weapons. For this reason, Saudi Arabia wants to make the Middle East a zone free of all weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons. For countries that refuse to dispose of their weapons, they must be monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This way, all nuclear weapons will be either destroyed or closely observed.
Saudi Arabia’s main allies on this issue are Pakistan, Syria, and Iran. They all believe in using Nuclear energy for the well being of everyone and not for the harm of other countries.
In 1988 Saudi Arabia signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) that works towards nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation, and the peaceful use of nuclear energy. They also support the Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons as well as other weapons of mass destruction to disarm the Middle east. Saudi Arabia is involved in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, along with member of IAEA. As Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia, said, "We want no bombs….Our policy is to have a region free of nuclear weapons." (1) So, although Saudi Arabia has nuclear power, it is used only for peace. Ultimately, Saudi Arabia wants to rid the Middle East of all weapons of mass destruction to create a safer region.
1. "Profile for Saudi Arabia | NTI." NTI: Nuclear Threat Initiative. Web. 15 Nov. 2014. <http://www.nti.org/country-profiles/saudi-arabia/nuclear/>.
