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The John Batchelor Show

Saudi Nuclear Ambitions, US Defense Pact, and the SMR Investment Bubble. Henry Sokolski discusses how Saudi Arabia is negotiating a US defense pact while pursuing uranium enrichment capability for nuclear power. The US is reportedly urging South Korea to

The John Batchelor Show

John Batchelor

Books, News, Society & Culture, Arts

4.52.8K Ratings

🗓️ 18 October 2025

⏱️ 9 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Saudi Nuclear Ambitions, US Defense Pact, and the SMR Investment Bubble. Henry Sokolski discusses how Saudi Arabia is negotiating a US defense pact while pursuing uranium enrichment capability for nuclear power. The US is reportedly urging South Korea to switch a planned Saudi reactor sale to an American Westinghouse model. Separately, the Small Modular Reactor (SMR) industry is seeing enormous private valuation with zero revenue, signaling a potential financial bubble.


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Transcript

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0:00.0

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0:31.0

This is CBSI on the world. I'm John Batchelor. I welcome my colleague Henry Sikolsky, the executive director of the Non-Proliferation Policy Education Center, to help me

0:36.8

understand a story that dominates the front page

0:39.9

of the Financial Times out of London in these last hours.

0:43.5

Saudi Arabia and talks for U.S. Defense Pact, discussions for a deal long sought by the

0:49.2

kingdom come weeks after Qatar secured its own agreement with Washington. the quotes from the White House of people informed of the details say that the deal is in flux, but it is the American opinion.

1:05.0

This will bring peace and security to the region, guaranteeing that if there's an attack on Saudi Arabia, the U.S. will consider

1:12.5

it an attack on the United States and its ability to maintain its national security.

1:18.2

Henry, a very good evening to you. This reminds me of a story that you've been reporting on

1:23.4

over many months about the ambition of Saudi Arabia,

1:30.5

led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman,

1:33.5

to acquire a nuclear power plant,

1:35.9

I think that's how it initially started,

1:37.7

and your reservations.

...

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