Fareed Zakaria: Saudi Arabia Cannot Build a Car, Let Alone a Nuclear Bomb

Fareed Zakaria, an international affairs analyst, reacted to recent statements made by the Saudi ambassador to London, stating that Saudi Arabia is incapable of building a nuclear weapon, as the country has not even managed to produce a single car. Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Saudi ambassador in London, warned four days ago in an interview with the Daily Telegraph that if the nuclear negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 fail to resolve the Islamic Republic's nuclear dispute, 'all options are on the table.' The ambassador expressed hope that Barack Obama's efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons would be successful. However, he threatened that if this goal is not achieved, all options for Saudi Arabia would be considered. In response to these statements, Fareed Zakaria wrote in an article in the Washington Post on June 11, 'Saudi Arabia will not build a nuclear bomb. Saudi Arabia is not capable of building a nuclear bomb. Saudi Arabia has not yet managed to build a car (but is expected to produce its first car in 2017 after much effort).' According to Arabian Business, Saudi Arabia plans to produce its first joint passenger car in 2017 in Dammam with the participation of Malaysian companies. This American analyst continued, 'Saudi Arabia can do nothing more than drilling into the ground (for oil extraction).' Zakaria emphasized that about 90% of Saudi government revenue comes from oil sales, and despite decades of extensive government investment and providing cheap energy, industrial products make up only 10% of Saudi Arabia's gross production. In another part of his article, Zakaria expressed doubt about the ability of Saudi Arabia's education system to train nuclear scientists. He further examined the possibility of Saudi Arabia purchasing a nuclear bomb, stating, 'But can Saudi Arabia not buy a nuclear bomb? The likelihood of such an action is very low. Such an attempt would have to be carried out secretly, under the threat of sanctions, which could provoke a Western reaction at any moment or prevent it from happening.' Zakaria noted that due to its heavy reliance on oil revenues, Saudi Arabia is very vulnerable to potential sanctions regarding the purchase of a nuclear bomb. He also considered the possibility of Pakistan providing a nuclear bomb to Saudi Arabia to be very low, stating that despite Saudi financial aid to Pakistan, Islamabad is fully aware of the potential consequences of selling a nuclear bomb to Saudi Arabia. This American analyst views Pakistan's reluctance to participate in airstrikes against Houthi militants and supporters of former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh as an example of Pakistan's approach, where politicians in that country assess the consequences and risks of cooperating with Saudi Arabia. Zakaria concluded his article by predicting that regardless of what happens with Iran's nuclear program in the future, Saudi Arabia will not have a nuclear bomb in the next ten years because 'it cannot.' Iran, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, and Russia, along with Germany (the P5+1), are negotiating to reach a comprehensive and final agreement regarding Tehran's nuclear program. Access and inspection of Iran's military facilities are among the unresolved key issues between Iran and the P5+1. Iran has previously demanded the lifting of all sanctions simultaneously with reaching a final agreement. Iran and the P5+1 have until July 9 (June 30) to reach a comprehensive and final agreement to resolve Tehran's nuclear dispute.