APLN Policy Brief 5

The following is a summary. Click on the adjacent link to download the full brief.

Compared with nuclear safeguards, international arrangements for nuclear security are weak. The relevant treaties are far from universal, there are no binding international standards, no international inspections, and no international reporting and accountability mechanisms. Pending global consensus on meeting these shortcomings, many practical steps could usefully be taken on a regional level to increase participation in treaties, provide necessary assurance, extend peer review and generally strengthen cooperation. Informal mechanisms may have a significant role to play in encouraging and facilitating this action.

About the Author

John Carlson was formerly Director General of the Australian Safeguards and NonProliferation Office, and founding Chair of the Asia–Pacific Safeguards Network. He is an adviser to APLN, and his other current appointments include Counselor to the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI); Nonresident Fellow of the Lowy Institute; member of the Advisory Council of the International Luxembourg Forum; and Associate, Project on Managing the Atom, Belfer Center, Harvard University.

Image: Wikimedia Commons.