strategy
Preventing movement of weapons-usable nuclear materials to non-nuclear states
Synonyms:
Preventing smuggling of plutoniumPreventing illegal trading in nuclear weapons material
Context:
One of the prime concerns of global security in the post-Cold War era is of nuclear weapons proliferation by non-nuclear states, especially considered rogue states. This involves on the one hand, the potential that legal international movement of nuclear technologies, materials, and expertise such as weapons-usable plutonium, may be used by non-nuclear states to produce nuclear weapons, and on the other hand, the illegal movement of nuclear weapons materials, technologies, and related personnel to non-nuclear states, specifically from the territory of the former Soviet Union (primarily Russia) to states that may be considered by the international community as rogue. Recipient states may have a hidden agenda to develop the capacity to obtain and/or produce, directly and/or indirectly, nuclear weapons in order to enhance the pursuit of their interest, though at the likely detriment of regional and global stability. Apart from focusing on nuclear weapons states to reduce their nuclear weapons stockpiles and/or programmes, it is of vital interest to global security and peace that the proliferation of nuclear weapons by non-nuclear weapons states by any means be monitored, discouraged, and checked.Seizures of illicit plutonium in Europe have raised global concerns about the unlawful trade in nuclear materials, and fears about the security of nuclear stockpiles have now become focused on the former Soviet Union. The smuggling of primarily Russian plutonium represents an acute threat to nuclear non-proliferation and global stability.
Implementation:
In recent years, the USA and other nations have taken measures to prevent or undermine such activities that have involved countries such as Iraq. At the time of writing, the USA is trying to prevent the sale of nuclear technology by Russia to Iran, and is negotiating with North Korea over certain nuclear issues. Claim:
There is no real distinction between weapons-grade and reactor-grade plutonium, in that both make very satisfactory bombs. Less than nine kg of plutonium (a piece the size of a grapefruit) is sufficient for a bomb. One ten-thousandth of a gram is the human cancer dose. Broader:
Preventing smugglingPreventing illegal border tradePreventing nuclear proliferationProviding security assurances for non-nuclear weapon statesStrengthening safeguards on movement of nuclear-weapons grade materials Narrower:
Authorizing seizure of nuclear materialsVerifying compliance with nuclear arms treatiesProtecting against vulnerable nuclear weapons arsenals Constrains:
Supplying nuclear materialsProliferating strategic nuclear armsCreating risk of unintentional global nuclear war due to nuclear proliferation Constrained by:
Trading in technologyTransferring technologyRefusing international inspection of nuclear sites Facilitates:
Stabilizing world orderRechannelling expenditure on defenceReducing nuclear rivalry among countriesLimiting availability of terrorist weaponsReducing risk of unintentional global nuclear war due to nuclear proliferation Facilitated by:
Phasing out nuclear reprocessingAccepting inspection of nuclear sitesPromoting peaceful use of nuclear energyContinuing role of the USA in global stabilityNegotiating convention for the elimination of nuclear weaponsSecuring bomb-grade nuclear material from the former Soviet Union Problems:
Covert transfer of strategic technologyDismantling of nuclear weapons
Dubious viability of nuclear fuel reprocessing plants
Government secrecy concerning nuclear weapons testing
Illegal exports of nuclear materials
Immigration of skilled workers to undesirable destinations
Inadequate facilities for disposal of nuclear warheads
Irresponsible transfer of sensitive technologies
Non-verifiability of compliance with nuclear arms treaties
Nuclear arms race
Nuclear terrorism
Nuclear war
Obstacles to unilateral nuclear disarmament
Proliferation of nuclear weapons and technology
Proliferation of strategic nuclear weapons
Stockpiles of nuclear warfare material
Vulnerable nuclear weapons arsenals
Organizations:
International Atomic Energy Agency Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean European Atomic Energy Community International Coalition for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Programme for Promoting Nuclear Non-Proliferation International Network of Engineers and Scientists Against Proliferation Treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons Application of safeguards on implementation of article III 1 and 4 of the Treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons Strategic arms reduction treaty Subjects:
Fundamental Sciences → Metallic elements and alloysFundamental Sciences → Material
Commerce → Trade
Societal Problems → Prevention
Societal Problems → Crime
Defence → Arms
Government → Nation state
Law → Legality
Economics → Resource utilization
Type Classification:
E: Emanations of other strategies Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
