Dear Friends and Colleagues,
The advent of summer saw a panoply of events of importance for the nuclear security community. On June 2, the United Nations Security Council’s 1540 Committee ended its three-day open consultations for its comprehensive review of the resolution, which is the only international instrument that legally binds all UN Member States to secure and physically protect nuclear weapons related materials (along with other WMD-related materials). Although the Committee noted that the implementation of nuclear security measures exceeded implementation of chemical and biological security measures, low levels of implementation in Africa, Asia, and Latin America remained a concern with much work to be done. Unfortunately, the largely isolated stance of the Russian Federation undermines any change in the Committee’s capacity or mandate sought by most Member States, especially in terms of technical assistance. The Committee should complete the review before its current mandate – already on its second technical roll-over from the original 2020 date – expires on 30 November 2022. The penultimate week of the month also witnessed the first meeting of State Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), where civil society played an especially prominent role, and the International Conference on Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources, where civil society organizations had opportunities to engage with regulatory authorities worldwide.
This month also brought the very unwelcome news that Stimson’s co-founder and long-time nuclear security advocate Michael Krepon has a fast-progressing cancer. I had the privilege of meeting Michael during some lab-to-lab exchanges in China nearly thirty years ago, and soon learned how valued a friend and mentor he has been to so many in the nuclear security, nonproliferation, and disarmament communities (especially in South Asia) through the years. I can only hope that we here at Stimson can keep faith with his patient and persistent pursuit of policy ideals, and we can do it with even half as much warmth and compassion.
Hope, Endurance, and Courage,
Rick
Director, International Nuclear Security Forum
Join the conversation on Twitter: @INS_Forum
Updates
- The INSF published a Field Note on a recent visit to the Francis E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming, U.S.A. Read the field note.
Nuclear Security News
Impact: The Invasion of Ukraine
- Russian Army Turns Ukraine’s Largest Nuclear Plant Into a Military base: “At the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southern Ukraine, more than 500 Russian soldiers who seized the plant in March have in recent weeks deployed heavy artillery batteries and laid anti-personnel mines along the shores of the reservoir whose water cools its six reactors, according to workers, residents, Ukrainian officials, and diplomats. The Ukrainian army holds the towns dotted on the opposite shore, some 3 miles away, but sees no easy way to attack the plant, given the inherent danger of artillery battles around active nuclear reactors.”
- Russian invaders have abducted 11 employees of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in a week: “In temporarily occupied Enerhodar, the Russian military abducted 11 employees of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). Where they are now is unknown.”
- BREAKING NEWS: Ukraine terminates nuclear security agreements with Russia: “Ukraine announced its termination of nuclear agreements with Russia in an official statement that read: Because of the military aggression of the Russian Federation, the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine suspends the observance of international treaties that relate to cooperation among states in the field of nuclear security.”
- Energoatom re-establishes link to Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant: “Ukrainian state-owned nuclear power operator Energoatom has re-established a remote connection to safeguards surveillance systems at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant (NPP)…Energoatom re-established the connection through its ‘own efforts’, the news agency quoted the company as saying, while transmission of mandatory monitoring data to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has also resumed.”
- In Chernobyl’s delicate nuclear labs, Russians looted safety systems: “Six hundred ninety-eight computers. 344 vehicles. 1,500 radiation dosimeters. Irreplaceable software. Almost every piece of firefighting equipment. The list of what Russia’s occupying forces stole, blew up or riddled with bullets in and around Chernobyl’s laboratories is still being compiled. While the catastrophe that many feared has been avoided — war unleashing radiation across the region from the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster in 1986 — officials at the defunct Chernobyl plant are taking stock of Russia’s capricious and chaotic month here, in which nine of their colleagues were killed and five were kidnapped.”
- IAEA chief working on mission to Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant: “International Atomic Energy Agency chief Grossi has for months said that the situation at Zaporizhzhia, where Ukrainian staff are working under Russian orders, poses a safety risk and said he wants to lead a mission there. Ukraine has now indicated that it is concerned about the supply of spare parts to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), Grossi told a quarterly meeting of his agency’s 35-nation Board of Governors, adding that data on nuclear material there was still not being transmitted to the IAEA as it should.”
- Fact Sheet on WMD Threat Reduction Efforts with Ukraine, Russia and Other Former Soviet Union Countries: “In a further demonstration of Ukraine’s dedication to nuclear nonproliferation, at the 2010 Nuclear Security Summit hosted by the United States, Ukraine voluntarily pledged to remove its highly enriched uranium (HEU).”
International Architecture
- Global nuclear arsenal expected to grow for the first time since Cold War: “The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute released on Monday its annual overview of international security and global arms production, warning that the post-Cold War decline in nuclear arsenals appeared to be ending…The report pointed to the conflict in Ukraine as a driving factor.”
- IAEA Completes Nuclear Security Mission in Jordan: “The INSServ team observed that Jordan had made a significant progress in strengthening its nuclear security capabilities, including during major public events such as sporting events. The team provided recommendations and suggestions to support Jordan in further enhancing and sustaining nuclear security.”
- IAEA Completes Nuclear Security Advisory Mission in Finland: “The IPPAS team observed that Finland has further strengthened its nuclear security capabilities, confirming the country’s well-established nuclear security regime. The team provided recommendations and suggestions to support Finland in enhancing and sustaining nuclear security. Good practices were identified in Finland’s nuclear security regime that can serve as examples to other IAEA Member States to help strengthen their nuclear security activities.”
Weapons, Materials, and Facilities
- Iran turns off two U.N. monitoring cameras at nuclear site: “Iran announced the step through state television and other media outlets, saying two cameras from the International Atomic Energy Agency had been deactivated, but did not specify which nuclear site was affected or offer further details. Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesperson for the Atomic Energy Agency of Iran, said 80 percent of IAEA’s surveillance cameras were still operating, state media reported.”
- IAEA to discuss Australia’s nuclear subs plan: “The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will hold talks in Australia on Monday on the country’s plan to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, and broader international security issues, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said.”
Security Culture
- Office for Nuclear Regulation corporate plan 2022 to 2023: “Ensuring high standards of safety, security and civil nuclear material accountancy across licensees and dutyholders remains at the core of our work through our regulatory interventions. We will continue to influence improvements on those sites and with dutyholders that are in enhanced and significantly-enhanced attention. In addition, management of ageing facilities, conventional health and safety performance, and effective leadership for safety and security are priorities for our regulation this year, ensuring we see the traction and collaboration needed across the industry to deliver improvements.”
Threats
- Tester Inspects Chips to Spot Counterfeits: “According to Chiplytics, counterfeit semiconductors pose an estimated $200 billion risk per year to the global electronics supply chain, a situation exacerbated by the current global chip shortage. Recent estimates from the International Anti-Counterfeit Coalition suggest a 57% increase in the global counterfeit market since the pandemic began, with microelectronics being one sector on the rise… Chiplytics was launched through a collaboration with the National Nuclear Security Administration and Sandia National Labs, where the technology was originally invented.”
Emerging Technologies
- Artificial Intelligence On The Hunt For Illegal Nuclear Material: “Mixed samples of nuclear material are significantly more challenging to identify with traditional methodologies. In a real-world situation, the extra time required could have a catastrophic impact on the global community. To improve the process, Chirayath, associate professor in the Department of Nuclear Engineering and director of the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station’s Center for Nuclear Security Science and Policy Initiatives, along with his research team, has developed a methodology using machine learning, a type of artificial intelligence.”
Member Organization Announcements and Updates
Centre for Science and Security Studies (CSSS), Kings College London
- Christopher Hobbs and Matthew Moran have co-authored a piece in The Nonproliferation Review, “Exploring the human dimension of nuclear security: the history, theory, and practice of security culture.” Read the paper.
- CSSS hosted the latest event in its Nuclear Security Culture Programme Webinar Series, “Gender parity in nuclear security” on June 30, 2022. Watch the webinar.
GNSP Global
- Following Nick Tomkinson’s publication of his white paper, “Rethinking our readiness for rapid response radiation monitoring in the face of nuclear incidents” with Professor Tom Scott (Bristol Uni) and Dr Arnab Basu (CEO, Kromek), he held a follow up meeting with a range of UK experts (including UK politicians) to discuss their paper and produce a series of recommendations. Read the news coverage.
Henry L. Stimson Center
- The Stimson Center’s Christina McAllister and Sneha Nair wrote a field note capturing their briefing about ICBM operation and nuclear security for Minutemen nuclear warheads at the Francis E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming, U.S.A. Read the piece.
- Sneha Nair presented on Divesting nuclear security from structural biases within an existing national security framework during the New America Nuclear Futures Working Group research conference on June 13 and 15, 2022.
James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS)
- The James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies launched another initiative with the focus on the Black Sea region called the US-Black Sea Nonproliferation Exchange Initiative. The initiative is sponsored by the International Security and Nonproliferation Bureau of the US State Department and will serve as a channel for a deeper coordination and support between nonproliferation professionals in the US and Black Sea including scholars/researchers and diplomats/practitioners. The initiative was launched with a meeting in Vienna which brought together 20 emerging and prominent weapons of mass destruction (WMD) nonproliferation experts from the Black Sea region and other US and international experts. Read the meeting report.
Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI)
- In June, NTI convened its 10th Anniversary Meeting of the Global Dialogue on Nuclear Security Priorities. Learn more.
- Nickolas Roth presented at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Technology, “Assessing and Improving Strategies for Preventing, Countering, and Responding to Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism: Nuclear Threats- Information Gathering Meeting #1”. Watch the video.
University of Antwerp
- Tom Sauer published an article, “US Extended Nuclear Deterrence in Europe and East Asia: A Comparative Analysis” in Asian Affairs. Read the article.
University of Melbourne
- Trevor Findlay recently published Transforming Nuclear Safeguards Culture: The IAEA, Iraq, and the Future of Non-Proliferation, in which he examines the role of organizational culture in international efforts to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. Learn more.
University of Texas, Austin; Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Project
- Alan J. Kuperman gave an interview on Late Night Live, ABC Radio, Australia, “Australia’s nuclear submarines,” on June 22, 2022. Listen here.
- Alan J. Kuperman also presented, “Will AUKUS Foster Nuclear Proliferation?” at the British International Studies Association in Newcastle, UK on June 17, 2022.
Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP)
- Ahead of the Tenth Review Conference to the Treaty on the Non‑Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the VCDNP and the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) held a high‑level diplomatic workshop in Vienna, Austria, focusing on the “Vienna Issues” – nuclear non-proliferation and safeguards, nuclear security, and peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology. Read the summary.
- The VCDNP’s new case study on advancing access to radiotherapy in low-and middle income countries (LMICs) examines some of the reasons behind the shortage of radiotherapy machines in LMICs and draws on Zambia’s success in this regard and discussions with experts and policy makers across the globe for lessons learned in providing cancer care for all. Learn more.
- The first edition of the VCDNP’s new “Governing the Atom Brief Series” focuses on how amending or rescinding small quantities protocols to safeguards agreements benefit the State in question. Explore the series.
- VCDNP Non Resident Senior Fellow John Carlson’s new paper highlights the origins of the terms “diversion” and “non compliance” in the safeguards context and the importance of a clear understanding of these terms. Read it here.
- John Carlson and co-author Valeri Bytchkov have published a paper reflecting on the concept of safeguards culture, published jointly by NTI and CENESS. Learn more.
- From 16 to 20 May 2022, the VCDNP held its twenty third intensive short course on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament for diplomats and practitioners. Read more.
- On 20 May 2022, the VCDNP held a webinar focused on the upcoming 21 to 23 June 2022 First Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW, including expectations relating to nonproliferation, disarmament, security, and projected outcomes. Learn more.
World Institute for Nuclear Security (WINS)
- Ali Alkis published an article in the International Journal of Nuclear Security, “Threat of Nuclear Terrorism: The Developing Nuclear Security Regime.” Read the article.
Individual Member Updates
- Artem Lazarev at the UNODC’s CBRN Terrorism Prevention Programme shared the following updates:
- The UNODC made a presentation on the “Prevention and suppression of terrorist and other criminal acts involving radioactive sources under the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT)” at the International Conference on Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources hosted by the IAEA on 20-24 June. The presentation described main provisions of ICSANT with regards to security of radioactive sources, benefits of adhering to it, and challenges to its universalization and implementation. Furthermore, the presentation underlined UNODC technical and legislative assistance currently rendered in that context under two projects (funded by the European Union and Canada), and shared lessons learned during assistance activities.
- UNODC conducted bilateral meetings with national stakeholders of Albania involved in decision making on ICSANT on 15-16 June, under the EU-funded project “Promoting Universalization and Effective Implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT)”. Meetings were held with representatives from the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice, General Directorate of State Police, General Directorate of Customs, Institute for Applied Physics, Office for Radiation Protection/Institute for Public Health, Prosecutor’s Office, and Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. During the meetings, UNODC underlined the importance of becoming party to ICSANT with concrete examples on benefits of adherence and provided an overview of the technical and legislative assistance that UNODC can tailor to Albania’s needs with regard to its adherence to, and implementation of, ICSANT.
- UNODC also delivered a presentation on ICSANT at a national advocacy event for parliamentarians on ICSANT held by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) on 16 June. Prior to that event, UNODC had the opportunity, jointly with UNOCT, to meet with the Minister for State relations with the Parliament and the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament and discuss the benefits of ICSANT.
- UNODC participated in the Open Consultations on the Comprehensive Review of Resolution 1540 (2004) from 31 May to 2 June, held at NY HQ. During the consultations, UNODC delivered an official statement supporting the resolution, highlighting the work of its CBRN Terrorism Prevention Programme, including its work to promote the universalization and effective implementation of the international legal instruments against terrorism, seven of which deal – to differing degrees – with the prevention and suppression of CBRN terrorism and have synergies with resolution 1540 (2004).
Jobs
- CRDF Global has an opportunity to join their nuclear security team. View the job descriptions.
- The International Atomic Energy Agency is hiring for several positions, including a Nuclear Security Officer (Radiological Crime Scene Management) (P3). Apply here.
- The National Nuclear Security Administration’s Graduate Fellowship Program applications are now open. Learn more.
- CSIS is looking to fill an internship vacancy for their Project on Nuclear Issues (PONI). Apply here.
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratories is hiring a Nuclear Physical Security Specialist. View the vacancy.
- The Defense Threat Reduction Agency is hiring a Physical Security Specialist (Nuclear). Learn more.
- Dominion Energy is hiring a Nuclear Security Officer. Apply here.
