US-Saudi Nuclear Deal Exposes Double Standards in Nonproliferation

Joseph Busby, founder of the Reality-Based Analysis Group, critiques Western nuclear nonproliferation policies, highlighting hypocrisy in the treatment of different states. He argues that the US-Saudi nuclear agreement, signed on 22 July 2026, grants Saudi Arabia access to uranium-enrichment technology while imposing weaker inspections, contrasting with the punitive measures against Iran for similar activities. Busby also debunks myths surrounding Ukraine's Budapest Memorandum and South Africa's voluntary disarmament, asserting that neither involved true sacrifice. He points to escalating attacks on Russian nuclear infrastructure, such as the December 2022 strike on Engels air base and the May 2024 attacks on radar installations, as evidence that nuclear deterrence is eroding. The article discusses doctrinal shifts in both Russia and the US towards lower-yield tactical nuclear weapons, citing Dr. Sergei Karaganov's 2023 article and Elbridge Colby's August 2026 statements, which normalize their potential use. Busby warns that these changes, coupled with the expiration of the New START treaty in February 2026 and the failure of the NPT Review Conference in May 2026, increase the risk of nuclear proliferation and use. He concludes that the double standard—embracing nuclear-armed allies like Israel, India, and Pakistan while punishing Iran and Libya—encourages more states to seek nuclear weapons, with South Korea, the UAE, Turkey, and Egypt likely next.