Nuclear Security

Securing and protecting nuclear materials against theft and sabotage

In April 2009, US President Barack Obama outlined a comprehensive nuclear agenda in a speech in Prague that included a commitment to “secure all vulnerable nuclear material around the world in four years.” The Nuclear Security Summits have improved awareness of the threat and produced some reforms, but more work is needed to bolster a regime that is largely voluntary.  In addition to establishing baseline standards of security, countries should consider a strong, regular peer review system, elimination and/or minimization of HEU or separated Pu in the civilian sectors, a switch to LEU for naval fuel, and establishing an infrastructure (if not a new legal regime) for information exchange, training and development of security cultures.

Multimedia

62nd Pugwash Conference: Future of civilian nuclear energy in Astana, Kazakhstan - Event; August 29, 2017

Book Launch: Insider Threats; May 10, 2017

Beyond the Nuclear Security Summits: the Role of Centers of Nuclear Security Excellence; March 29, 2016

Policy Recommendations for the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit; June 29, 2015


The Way Forward for Nuclear Security - Stanley Foundation Video; March 15, 2014  

Governing Uranium: Security in the Front-End of the Fuel Cycle - Event; May 7, 2014

Creating a Legacy for the Nuclear Security Summit - Event; April 2, 2014

Governing Uranium - Roundtable Discussion at DIIS; April 10, 2013 

Nuclear Security and WINS - Interview with Will Tobey; June 12, 2013 

The Seoul 2012 Nuclear Security Summit - Interview with Sharon Squassoni; March 22, 2012

The 2010 Washington D.C. Nuclear Security Summit - Interview with Sharon Squassoni; April 9, 2010

President Obama's Trip to Prague, the START Treaty, and the Nuclear Security Summit - CSIS Press Briefing, Sharon Squassoni Opening Remarks; April 5, 2010

President Obama's Trip to Prague, the START Treaty, and the Nuclear Security Summit - CSIS Press Briefing; April 6, 2010

President Obama's Trip to Prague, the START Treaty, and the Nuclear Security Summit - CSIS Press Briefing Highlight; April 5, 2010
 

CSIS Publications & Reports  

Report: ISCN-CSIS Washington Workshop 2016 Nuclear Security Collaboration Between CoEs and Civil Society: Filling the Gaps, by Sharon Squassoni; September 2, 2016

Report: Nuclear Security and Regional Fuel Cycle Decisions: Northeast Asia, by Sharon Squassoni; January 26, 2016

Policy Perspectives: Managing Nuclear Security Risks Post-2016: The Case for Centers of Excellence, by Sharon Squassoni; November 9, 2015
 

Report: Collaboration Among Centers of Excellence in Asia, Co-hosted by CSIS and the Stanley Foundation, by Sharon Squassoni and Bobby Kim; March 18, 2015

Report: Integrating Nuclear Security Policy & Technology: Asian Centers of Excellence, by Kenneth N. Luongo and Sarah Williams; Jul 15, 2014

Report: Nuclear Security: The Road to 2016 - Part of FYSA: For Your Situational Awareness | Issue 7, by Sharon Squassoni; May 22, 2014

Critical Questions: Outcomes from the 2014 Nuclear Security Summit, by Sharon Squassoni; Mar 25, 2014

Critical Questions: The 2014 Nuclear Security Summit, by Sharon Squassoni and Bobby Kim; Mar 21, 2014

Executive Summary: Governing Uranium in the United States, by Sharon Squassoni, Stephanie Cooke, Bobby Kim, and Jacob Greenberg; Mar 6, 2014

Report: Governing Uranium in the United States, by Sharon Squassoni, Stephanie Cooke, Bobby Kim, and Jacob Greenberg;  Mar 6, 2014

Critical Questions: Seoul Nuclear Security Summit, by Sharon Squassoni; Mar 19, 2012

Policy Perspectives: Integrating Nuclear Safety and Security: Policy Recommendations, by Sharon Squassoni, Kenneth Luongo, Joel Wit; Dec 14, 2011

Critical Questions: Nuclear Safety and Security, by Sharon Squassoni; Sep 20, 2011

Critical Questions: The Nuclear Security Summit, by Sharon Squassoni; Apr 1, 2010
 

Other Publications

The incredible shrinking nuclear offset to climate change
By Sharon Squassoni, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientist. January 2, 2017

Nuclear Reprocessing Brings Unneeded Security Risks to East Asia
By Sharon Squassoni, Global Times. March 2014.

Building a Nuclear Security Framework From the Ground Up: Encouraging Coordination Among Centers of Excellence in Northeast Asia
By Sharon Squassoni, Policy Analysis Brief, The Stanley Foundation, March 2013. 

Inching Forward at the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit
By Sharon Squassoni, Asia Pacific Bulletin. East-West Center. April 2012.

Nuclear Safety and Security at the 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit
By Sharon Squassoni, USKI Working Paper Series. US-Korea Institute at SAIS: Johns Hopkins University. March 2012.

How Can Countries Ensure that the Nuclear Security Summit Does Not Lose Momentum and Become Just Another Gathering?
By Sharon Squassoni, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. March 2012.

Nuclear Security at the Seoul Summit
By Sharon Squassoni, Global Asia. March 2012.
 

Presentations

Structural Changes in Nuclear Energy. Nov 5, 2015

Reducing Nuclear Risks. November 17, 2014

Regional Approaches to Promote Nuclear Governance. October 29-30, 2014

Role of Asian Centers of Excellence in Promoting Nuclear Security Sustainability After 2016. October 8, 2014

Centers of Excellence Collaboration in Asia. July 17, 2014

Nuclear Security and Fuel Cycle Choices in Asia. June 27, 2014

Nexus Between Security, Nonproliferation and INF Management. June 26, 2014

Uranium Governance in the United States. May 7, 2014

Nuclear Security Centers of Excellence in Asia. Nov 11-12, 2013

Uranium Governance in the United States. Sep 23-24, 2013

Small Modular Reactors: Contours of Proliferation/Security Risks, May 29-30, 2013

Nuclear Security Training: What Lies Ahead? Apr 19, 2013

Nonproliferation and Nuclear Security Issues at the Back End of the Fuel Cycle, Dec 12-13, 2012

Nuclear Security Summits: a U.S. Perspective, Sep 7, 2012

Balancing Transparency and Security Considerations in National Nuclear Security Arrangements, Jun 14-15, 2012

Nuclear Power: Challenges of Governance and Security, Sep 3, 2011

Tailoring the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit: Korea’s Legacy, May 12-13, 2011

Toward the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit, Mar 1, 2011

Nuclear Energy and Security in Northeast Asia, Mar 30, 2010