The 2010 Nuclear Security Summit at Washington

Abstract

The domestic transition that ushered in a new U.S. President, a young African-American Senator from Illinois, became the catalyst for the next step in learning on nuclear security based on international cooperation beyond the Russia-U.S. bilateral framework as well as additional incentives that promoted assumption of greater national responsibility. The idea of a summit-level process focused on nuclear security came from President Obama himself. U.S. leadership was crucial for buy-in by the other participants many of whom were sceptical or even suspicious of U.S. intentions at the start. Another major challenge was forging a uniform appreciation of the sources of the nuclear security threat. In this context, the goal of securing all vulnerable nuclear material in four years was set. Process wise, the Sherpas’ meetings turned out to be an effective way of advancing nuclear learning by widening the circle of stakeholders within the participating nations and by helping diffuse good practices across them. Substantive progress was captured in the Washington Communiqué and Work Plan as well as the bilateral and unilateral initiatives announced in conjunction with the Summit. Projects that had been lingering for years, to wit the Plutonium Disposition Agreement with Russia and HEU-conversion in Mexico, were quickly completed. Agreement was reached on minimising the use of HEU in research reactors and repatriating spent HEU fuel. This effectively turned a U.S./G8 initiative into a global best practice. The IAEA’s nuclear security activities got new funding and support and resources were committed to nuclear security training, especially in regions expanding the use of nuclear energy. IAEA’s physical protection guidelines (INFCIRC/225) also became the standard for assessing the effectiveness of measures required under the binding UNSC Resolution 1540.