Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-MA) is lending full support to the Committee on Oversight and Reform’s effort to continue oversight of the U.S. / Saudi Arabia civil nuclear cooperation agreement.
Committee officials recently released a report calling for increased Congressional direction in the midst of what officials said are reports of negotiations between the Trump administration and Saudi Arabia on a potential 123 agreement.
“Since 2017, I have repeatedly pressed the Trump administration to meet its legal obligation to keep the Congress fully and currently informed about any negotiations related to nuclear cooperation with Saudi Arabia,” Markey said. “But in light of Saudi Arabia’s recent, disturbing turn toward authoritarianism – including its openly-declared willingness potentially to pursue nuclear weapons in the future – I believe any discussion of nuclear cooperation with the Kingdom should be suspended indefinitely.”
Officials said two years ago Markey sent the first in a series of oversight letters to the Trump administration raising concerns about the status, transparency, and motivations for U.S. discussions with Saudi Arabia regarding nuclear cooperation.
“The House Oversight’s report underscores why the Trump administration has not been forthcoming about its discussions with Saudi Arabia,” Markey said. “We can now see the disturbing motivations behind the Trump administration’s push for nuclear cooperation with the Kingdom.”
Markey said he would soon be reintroducing legislation with colleagues to ensure Congress possesses final authorization in any civilian nuclear engagement with Saudi Arabia.