Is Saudi Arabia Preparing to Buy Nukes from Pakistan?

When Pakistan started its nuclear program in the 1970’s, it was widely believed that the Saudi’s helped fund their operation. Supposedly, the Saudi’s funded the program on the condition that someday, Pakistan would have to do them a favor. If ever the need should arise, Islamabad would have to send them a few of their nukes.

At least, that’s according to an anonymous US Defense insider who spoke to the Sunday Times. “There has been a longstanding agreement in place with the Pakistanis [over nuclear weapons] and the House of Saud has now made the strategic decision to move forward.” Now that the negotiations with Iran might allow them to maintain their nuclear facilities, countries like Saudi Arabia fear there may be an arms race in the Middle East, and they don’t want to be excluded.

This isn’t the first time these claims have been brought to the press. A BBC report in 2013 featured the former head of Israeli Intelligence, who said something along the same lines “the Saudis will not wait one month. They already paid for the bomb, they will go to Pakistan and bring what they need to bring.” But that begs the question, are these claims true? It’s no secret that these countries have traditionally been at odds with Iran for decades, and they don’t want to see that nation gain any nuclear capability. Are these genuine concerns coming from the US and Israeli defense establishments, or are they just trying to scare the public?