BRICS, Saudi Arabia, and Nuclear Weapons: Will MBS Trigger an Arms Race?
The prospect of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East has once again become a pressing concern. Recent statements by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) have ignited debate, particularly in the context of the BRICS alliance and escalating regional tensions. Is Saudi Arabia poised to develop nuclear weapons if Iran does?
MBS's Warning: Nuclear Ambitions Contingent on Iran
On 20 de sept. de 2025, Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) said the kingdom will obtain a nuclear weapon if its rival Iran does so first, in a wide-ranging interview. This wasn't an isolated statement. 21 de sept. de 2025, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said Wednesday that if Iran acquired a nuclear weapon, his country would seek to do the same. The next leader of Saudi Arabia says his country would quickly obtain a nuclear bomb if arch rival Iran successfully develops its own nuclear weapon. But Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman raised eyebrows in a late September interview when he said that if Iran were to get a nuclear weapon “we will have to”. These declarations clearly indicate a potential shift in Saudi Arabia's strategic posture.
BRICS and Saudi Arabia: A Complex Relationship
Saudi Arabia's growing engagement with the BRICS economic alliance adds another layer of complexity. While BRICS focuses on economic cooperation, any shift in Saudi Arabia's security policy, such as pursuing nuclear weapons, could have wider geopolitical ramifications for the group and its members. Will the BRICS alliance influence Saudi Arabia's decision-making regarding nuclear ambitions?
Escalating Regional Tensions: The Trigger for Nuclearization?
The backdrop to MBS's statements is a period of heightened tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran. 21 de sept. de 2025, as Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi concluded his visit to the UN, Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman vowed to acquire nuclear weapons if Iran does. Saudi Arabia will develop its own nuclear weapons if Iran does, Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told CNN on Wednesday, amid spiralling tensions between the regional powers. The long-standing rivalry and proxy conflicts between the two nations fuel concerns that a nuclear arms race could destabilize the entire region.
The International Response
MBS's pronouncements have prompted international concern. The possibility of Saudi Arabia acquiring nuclear weapons raises questions about non-proliferation efforts and the potential for further instability in the Middle East. The international community faces the challenge of de-escalating tensions and preventing a nuclear arms race in the region. Will diplomatic efforts succeed in averting this scenario?