Nonproliferation and National Security Colloquium

In 2004, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) recognized the threat to international peace and security exemplified by the then recent discovery of a covert nuclear procurement network headed by Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, a network that supplied sensitive fuel cycle and nuclear weapon information and was linked to nuclear weapon programs in Libya, Iran and North Korea. To help combat this threat, the UNSC passed resolution UNSCR 1540, which requires countries to establish effective, enforceable measures and controls to prevent the proliferation by non-state actors of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and their delivery systems. As an international instrument, resolution 1540 is a fundamental, core component of nuclear infrastructure development. As we consider the possibility of a nuclear power renaissance, nuclear infrastructure development must address a vast array of issues, many of which rely on a country establishing a comprehensive legal framework that serves as a foundation for safety, security, and safeguards. Nearly five years after the passage of 1540, progress with respect to broad implementation is a mixed bag. This presentation will raise questions of how to best implement this key part of the nonproliferation toolkit and improve communication between States that need assistance and those willing to provide it.