Todd Jacobson
NS&D Monitor
3/27/2015
The National Nuclear Security Administration released this week for the first time a comprehensive strategy for its nonproliferation work. Called Prevent, Counter, and Respond—A Strategic Plan to Reduce Global Nuclear Threats, the 124-page document provides an overview of NNSA’s plans for its recently reorganized nonproliferation account from Fiscal Year 2016 to FY 2020. “In an era when the threat environment is dynamic and complex, and our relationships with key nuclear powers are changing, this report charts the course for these critical activities,” NNSA Administrator Frank Klotz said in a statement. “The NPCR report describes how NNSA addresses these challenges by effectively organizing, prioritizing, and directing its nonproliferation, counterterrorism, counterproliferation, and emergency response capabilities.”
The document highlights the challenge of continuing work with Russia in the future. Because of increased tensions between Washington and Moscow, Russia has cut off cooperation on nuclear security work in recent years, decreasing work within the NNSA’s International Nuclear Security (INS) account. “Worsening bilateral relations have affected the ability for INS to continue major cooperative projects in Russia,” the NNSA said in the document. “Given the size of Russia’s stockpile of WUNM [weapon usable nuclear material] (and the security risks inherent in such a large material inventory), INS will continue (with appropriate authorization as needed) to look for partnership opportunities with Russia to address common nuclear security challenges.”
