Expectations for the Nuclear Summit

The most significant nuclear security-related summit in years is taking place in Washington. It is critical that a serious commitment be made.

This is the most important meeting related to nuclear security of the last 60 years. The challenge: to move beyond declarations and take effective actions that will put stringent controls on the possession of nuclear materials.

The “Big Five” are here: Russia, China, Great Britain, France and of course the host country, the United States. India and Pakistan are also participating, though many people would not consider them nuclear powers.

The leaders of the 47 countries in attendance are thoroughly familiar with the agenda (37 presidents are in Washington).

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s message is clear. She says the threat of nuclear terrorism has increased. Al-Qaida and other groups want to cause chaos, destruction and death. Osama Bin Laden has tried at least twice to buy nuclear weapons on the black market.

The goal is to get a commitment to inventory and safeguard nuclear reserves. Nuclear power has grown to an unimagined extent. One would think that with the end of the Cold War the nuclear threat would have been reduced. The numbers say otherwise. There is enough nuclear material to build 120,000 bombs.

Particularly worrying, according to U.S. Assistant Secretary of State [Arturo Valenzuela] on his visit to Ecuador, is the Iranian threat.

The United Nations, through the Security Council, published a resolution in favor of disarmament in September. Now it must be implemented. Beyond declarations and idealistic documents, what is needed is detailed planning and commitment at the highest level.

It is indispensable to continue implementing nuclear reduction treaties, such as the one recently signed between Washington and Moscow.