Knowing when to walk: What is the best alternative to a formal US-Saudi nuclear agreement? - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Knowing when to walk: What is the best alternative to a formal US-Saudi nuclear agreement? - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Although Washington should keep working to bridge the divide with Riyadh, the United States also needs to begin planning for a scenario in which it is unable to reach an acceptable nuclear cooperation agreement. The key for the United States, in the parlance of negotiating strategy, is to know its BATNA, or “Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement.” If the Saudis don’t bend, the United States will have options to safeguard US interests, including, for example, increased US intelligence on Saudi’s nuclear program and clear guidelines for when sanctions might be imposed should the Saudis move toward uranium enrichment.