Dec
13
U.S Nuclear Cooperation With U.A.E
Filed Under Egypt, Nuclear Energy, U.A.E, U.S Foreign Policy | 22 Comments
I was going to write something up about this story, in which the WSJ reports that the Bush administration intends to sign a nuclear pact with the U.A.E, the first of its sort with a Middle Eastern nation. Instead, I’ll link to a blog that’s been a helpful resource over the years in helping me to understand the relation between my academic studies and analysis of current events and foreign policy. MDC over at Foreign Policy Watch gives a little insight into similar agreements (’123 agreements‘) that allow U.S companies to engage in nuclear cooperation with foreign states:
Some 123 agreements - ones with India, Russia, and China, for example - are more controversial than others. The US concluded one with Russia under the Bush administration that provoked the ire of several members of Congress even prior to this summer’s war with Georgia. Several members expressed concern that Russia had not been fully cooperative in supporting Washington’s nonproliferation efforts against Tehran, particularly as Moscow is still constructing a light water reactor at Bushehr. In May, the administration sent the agreement to Congress, where it would have had to sit unopposed for 90 days before entering into force. Yet the Russian-Georgian war that broke out in August proved to be the agreement’s spoiler. Sensing that this already hostile legislative environment would have only been further soured by the conflict, the administration pulled the agreement before it could be killed by Congress and also as a way to not be seen as rewarding Russia following its routing of a US ally.
This story is one to watch not only for the significance of a Gulf state pursuing nuclear energy in a manner that contrasts starkly to the road of provocation which Iran has taken, but also for the precedent it would set for other Middle Eastern nations that have expressed interest in acquiring nuclear power over the past few years.
Egypt has already stated its intention to resume work on the building of a nuclear power plant as part of a programme that was halted in the wake of Chernobyl. Back in September of 2006, the nation’s Energy Minister announced plans that would see a power station built on its northern Mediterranean coast, slated for completion within the next decade (I assume that’s Egyptian time). A month later, China announced it had struck a deal with Egypt over nuclear cooperation. Last March, Egypt signed a cooperation deal with Russia, allowing that nation to bid on contracts as well as providing training to Egyptian personnel and supplies of nuclear fuel. Egypt now plans to build 4 power stations in cooperation with international partners and the IAEA.
Egypt is only one of 13 nations in the Middle East to have announced nuclear intentions since 2006, a development brought about by a worsening energy crisis and a will to emulate Iran in an effort to balance regional power.