Former U.S. ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul sharply criticized the Trump administration's nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, arguing that the deal was being handled in a dangerously careless way. During a television appearance Friday morning, McFaul said the arrangement represented a major mistake.
The dispute centers on a plan that would let American companies take part in Saudi nuclear development. McFaul's criticism focused less on the idea of cooperation itself and more on what he described as the sloppy way the agreement was being put together and presented.
His comments add to a broader debate over how the United States should manage sensitive partnerships involving nuclear technology, especially in the Middle East. Agreements of this kind often draw intense scrutiny because they can affect regional security, U.S. foreign policy and long-term nonproliferation concerns.
By framing the proposed cooperation as reckless, McFaul underscored how divisive the Trump administration's Saudi policy remained. The reaction also highlights how even former senior diplomats viewed the nuclear agreement as a consequential test of judgment and oversight.
