France is Considering the Construction of Two Nuclear Reactors for Saudi Arabia

France has announced that it is considering the construction of two nuclear reactors for Saudi Arabia, a move that will be part of a $12 billion agreement between the two countries. On Wednesday, July 3, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius stated more details about the agreed terms between Paris and Riyadh. According to him, Airbus will sell 23 H145 multi-purpose helicopters to Saudi Arabia under one of the agreements worth up to 500 million euros. Additionally, the company is conducting research related to building a nuclear reactor for Saudi Arabia. The contract between Paris and Riyadh is announced following a meeting of the joint commission of France and Saudi Arabia in Paris, chaired by Laurent Fabius and Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi Minister of Defense. Fabius also mentioned that Saudi Arabian Airlines has ordered 50 passenger aircraft from Airbus, valued at $8 billion. The reporter from the French news agency writes that research on the construction of European pressurized reactors known as 'EPR', which France considers the safest and most advanced reactors in the world, gains additional significance for Saudi Arabia as a competitor to Iran, allowing it to develop its nuclear capabilities. In addition to this research, France will sign a memorandum for training Saudi specialists on nuclear safety principles. Mr. Fabius also announced that Saudi Arabia has committed to purchasing about 30 patrol vessels for its naval fleet from France. He stated, 'This means job creation and earning hundreds of millions of euros.' Despite criticisms regarding Saudi Arabia's human rights record, France is seeking to strengthen its ties with the country. Riyadh, in addition to its traditional alliance with the United States, is interested in expanding its connections with Western powers. Currently, Riyadh is under international pressure, including from Washington and Paris, to revoke the sentence of a thousand lashes for a blogger and human rights activist in the country. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has also faced criticism for carrying out executions. According to statistics from the French news agency, Saudi Arabia has executed 102 of its citizens or foreign individuals by mid-June this year, an increase compared to 87 executions in 2014. In this context, Sweden ended its military contract with Saudi Arabia for 'human rights' reasons, and the cases of two female Saudi drivers were referred to a terrorism court.