Saudi nuclear programme adds complexity to Yemen conflict

Houthi government in Sanaa have accused Saudi Arabia of using Yemen as a nuclear waste dump. Houthi Ministry of Fisheries accused Saudi of dumping nuclear waste in the waters of Yemen. Other reports accused Saudi of dumping nuclear waste in Yemeni desert. No further details were provided about the sites locations, the nature of the waste, or the amount dumped.

As part of protecting the security of its nascent and aspiring nuclear programme, Saudi has been seeking to reach a settlement or interim agreement with the Houthis to end the ongoing conflict. The Houthis have drones and missiles capabilities that can disrupt the Saudi nuclear programme. Hence, there is pressure on Saudi to provide long-term security to ensure the viability of the programme. This is substantial as it was recently revealed that Saudi normalisation with Israel is conditional on it getting a peaceful nuclear programme. Concerns about the security and safety of such a programme may have been a cause for intense discussions with the US and Israel.

For Yemen, Houthis are likely to bring up the topic as part of the ongoing negotiations and in their communication with the international community potentially stirring a public image issue around the Saudi nuclear programme.