Nuclear Security News and Member Updates Roundup, February 2023

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

As the world reflects on a year of war in Ukraine with no end in sight, recent headlines highlight new risks facing the country’s civilian nuclear power plants, including worrying delays to the needed rotation of the IAEA’s Support and Assistance Mission to Zaporizhzhia. The past month has also seen international atomic monitors detect uranium enriched to levels just below nuclear weapons-grade in Iran, and Russia suspending participation in New START and spreading fresh disinformation on nuclear threats. Amidst this gloom in an already dark season, it is heartening to review the summary of good work accomplished and underway by INSF members committed to strengthening the principles and practices of nuclear security around the world.

Christina

Interim Director, International Nuclear Security Forum

Join the conversation on Twitter: @INS_Forum

Updates

• The International Nuclear Security Forum (INSF) published a special edition of the newsletter, Resilience in Ukraine: A Retrospective of the Occupation of Zaporizhzhia and Efforts to Prevent Disaster, to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine. The special edition highlights civil society and member activities over the year and major news stories. Read here.

Nuclear Security News

Impact: The Russian Invasion of Ukraine

• Russia Says Protection Structures at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Near Completion—TASS: “The construction of protective structures for key facilities at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southeast Ukraine is nearing completion, Russia’s state TASS news agency reported on Tuesday, citing an adviser to the head of Russia’s nuclear plants operator. The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, was captured by Russian troops in March of last year, in the opening days of Moscow’s invasion in Ukraine.”
• IAEA Chief’s Fresh Zaporizhzhia Talks, Ukraine Brings in Nuclear Sanctions: “Grossi has spent months seeking to get agreement on the details of a safety and security zone around the six-unit Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant – Ukraine’s largest – which has been under Russian military control since early March 2022…On Sunday, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said the country had introduced sanctions against Russia’s nuclear industry. He also said the country’s diplomats would continue efforts “to extend global sanctions to this part of the Russian aggression machine.” Last week, the European Parliament voted in favour of the EU also imposing such sanctions, but any such decision would require all member states to back the plan, and Hungary has publicly pledged to veto such a move.”
• Russia is Draining a Massive Ukrainian Reservoir: Endangering a Nuclear Plant: “Russia appears to be draining an enormous reservoir in Ukraine, imperiling drinking water, agricultural production and safety at Europe’s largest nuclear plant, according to satellite data obtained by NPR. Since early November 2022, water has been gushing out of the Kakhovka Reservoir, in Southern Ukraine, through sluice gates at a critical hydroelectric power plant controlled by Russian forces. As a result, satellite data shows that the water level at the reservoir has plummeted to its lowest point in three decades…At stake is drinking water for hundreds of thousands of residents, irrigation for nearly half-a-million acres of farmland, and the cooling system at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Late last week, the International Atomic Energy Agency said it was aware of the potential risk posed by dropping water levels at the reservoir.”
• Energoatom: Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Staff Refuse to Train Russian Workers: “Ukrainian workers at the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant refused to train workers from the Kalinin nuclear plant in Russia’s Tver Oblast, according to Energoatom. The state nuclear energy operator reported on Feb. 14 that the Russian workers lack the knowledge and skills to operate the nuclear plant. Ukrainian workers have faced threats, torture, blackmail, and constant intimidation at the hands of Russian forces since they seized the plant in March 2022.”
• Grossi’s Appeal Over Delay to IAEA Staff Rotation at Zaporizhzhia: “The planned rotation of the three International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Support and Assistance Mission to Zaporizhzhia (ISAMZ) staff has now been delayed for more than two weeks, with Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi urging both sides to help facilitate the change in experts at the site…Grossi said: “The nuclear safety and security situation in Ukraine – especially at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant – continues to be dangerous and unpredictable. ISAMZ has been playing key role in helping to protect this major nuclear facility – with its six reactors – during the war. Their presence is contributing to the maintenance of nuclear safety and security, which is in everybody’s interest. The agency is doing everything it can to conduct the safe rotation of our staff there as soon as possible. Their safety and security are my top priority.”

International Architecture

• IAEA’s Network for Response and Assistance for Nuclear Emergencies Grows Beyond 40 Countries: “The IAEA’s Response and Assistance Network (RANET), a group of states offering international assistance to countries responding to nuclear and radiological emergencies, has grown to 41 countries after Italy registered this week. Through RANET countries offer global support with radiological measurements, medical advice or treatment, and specialized equipment to help to mitigate the consequences of nuclear or radiological emergencies for human health, the environment, and property. Thanks to RANET, Ukraine has received vital equipment and other assistance coordinated by the IAEA to help ensure nuclear safety and security in the country since February 2022.”
• Zelensky: Global Sanctions Must be Imposed on Russia’s Nuclear Industry: “President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address on Feb. 12 that Ukraine is doing its best to ensure that global sanctions are imposed on Russia’s nuclear industry. He said that “Russia’s nuclear blackmail of the world must be punished,” recalling Russia’s seizure of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the town of Enerhodar in Zaporizhzhia Oblast in March.”
• EU Commission Scratches Russia Nuclear Sanctions Plans: “The European Commission has abandoned plans to sanction Russia’s nuclear sector or its representatives in its next sanctions package, three diplomats told POLITICO on Thursday. The EU executive initially told EU countries that it would try to draw up sanctions targeting Russia’s civil nuclear sector. And, ahead of a meeting of EU leaders last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the bloc at least to issue sanctions against Russian nuclear energy company Rosatom. But that plan has failed, the three diplomats said, pointing to the latest sanctions drafts. The EU’s sanctions packages are divided into multiple parts: New rules that target specific sectors, such as aviation or military, and lists that impose visa restrictions and asset freezes on individuals and companies — but none include the nuclear sector, according to drafts seen by POLITICO and EU diplomats who spoke on condition of anonymity.”
• Iran’s Uranium Enrichment Hits a New High, Testing Diplomacy: “International atomic monitors in Iran have detected uranium enriched to levels just below nuclear weapons-grade, risking an escalation over Tehran’s expanding program. The International Atomic Energy Agency is trying to clarify how Iran accumulated uranium enriched to 84% purity — the highest level found by inspectors in the country to date, and a concentration just 6% below what’s needed for a weapon. Iran says its decades-long atomic program is for peaceful purposes but Western powers and Israel have accused it of working toward a nuclear bomb. Building a bomb would require further technical steps which have so far not been detected by the IAEA and a political decision to go ahead.”

Threats

• U.S. Nuclear Sites Face Hacking and Espionage Threats: “Hackers are pursuing nuclear targets, which are some of the most heavily regulated facilities in the United States. Despite those safeguards, the opportunities for espionage and much worse have made them alluring to hackers…Hackers who got into the U.S. nuclear command and control system could, theoretically, “trigger a false alarm, making us think that Russian nuclear weapons were on their way”– giving the president mere minutes to decide whether to launch a retaliatory strike…”
• (Radiological) War by Other Means: A Dirty Bomb in Ukraine?: “Fear is mightier than the sword, and few things stoke fear like a dirty bomb. So, it should have come as no surprise when Russia accused Ukraine of building a radiological dispersal device (RDD), possibly setting the stage for a false-flag attack. By manipulating widespread fear of radioactivity, such a device is a potent weapon of terror, and Russia has transformed it into an instrument of “war by other means.” To manage this, relevant chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) doctrine must also shift to emphasize public information and crisis recovery…The evolution of the radiological dispersal device into a strategic weapon requires CBRN professionals around the world to reconceptualize this threat, particularly in terms of crisis management. While traditionally categorized as a weapon of mass destruction, a dirty bomb is really a weapon of fear. As such, the potential impacts are overwhelmingly psychological, economic, and political, as opposed to destructive, making them ideal for irregular warfare. Institutional knowledge should be amended to reflect this, particularly in the realms of public information and incident recovery.”
• Russia Accuses Kyiv of Planning to Stage Nuclear Incident: “Russia said…that Ukraine was planning to stage a nuclear incident on its territory to pin the blame on Moscow ahead of a United Nations meeting, without providing evidence for the accusation. Since the start of its invasion of Ukraine nearly a year ago, Russia has repeatedly accused Kyiv of planning ‘false flag’ operations with non-conventional weapons, using biological or radioactive materials. No such attack has materialised. Russia’s defence ministry said in a statement that radioactive substances had been transported to Ukraine from a European country and Kyiv was preparing a large-scale ‘provocation.’ ‘The aim of the provocation is to accuse Russia’s army of allegedly carrying out indiscriminate strikes on hazardous radioactive facilities in Ukraine, leading to the leakage of radioactive substances and contamination of the area,’ it said.”
• Russia’s Putin Issues New Nuclear Warnings to West Over Ukraine: “President Vladimir Putin […] delivered a warning to the West over Ukraine by suspending a landmark nuclear arms control treaty, announcing that new strategic systems had been put on combat duty, and threatening to resume nuclear tests… ‘The elites of the West do not hide their purpose. But they also cannot fail to realize that it is impossible to defeat Russia on the battlefield,’ he told his country’s political and military elite. Alleging that the United States was turning the war into a global conflict, Putin said Russia was suspending participation in the New START treaty, its last major arms control treaty with Washington.”

Weapons, Materials, and Facilities

• Fire at Oak Ridge Y-12 Uranium Processing Facility Contained: “A fire at a uranium processing facility in the Y-12 National Security Complex led to the evacuation of hundreds of workers on the morning of Feb. 22, but officials said the fire was quickly contained and no radioactive material was released. The fire at the Y-12 in Oak Ridge, a highly secure facility where experts manufacture parts for America’s nuclear weapons and provide enriched uranium to the U.S. Navy, started around 9:15 a.m. in a uranium processing area in building 9212, Y-12 communications manager Taz Painter told Knox News. Hours after the fire, officials said all evacuated workers were accounted for and no injuries or contaminations were found. The building’s air monitors did not go off, which meant no radioactive material was released, officials said. As of that afternoon they said they did not know what caused the fire or the extent of the damage.”
• Los Alamos Will Have Equipment to Make 30 Nuke Cores by 2030, According to DOE Memo: “The Los Alamos National Laboratory will install by 2030 the equipment needed to make at least 30 plutonium pits annually, according to a Jan. 19 memo from the Deputy Secretary of Energy.”
• No Radiation Issues at Turkey’s Nuclear Power Plant, Officials Say: “Turkey wasn’t in danger of radiation exposure on Monday after two powerful earthquakes struck around 200 miles from the construction site of what is to be the country’s first nuclear power plant, the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency said. Turkey’s Nuclear Regulatory Authority hadn’t reported issues related to the Akkuyu Nuclear power plant, the IAEA said on Twitter.”
• Could Nuclear Power Plants Become Radioactive Weapons?: “It is a chilling illustration that no international treaty prevents nuclear plants from becoming targets in wartime and that nuclear reactors can turn into radioactivity-spewing weapons themselves. The hazards of nuclear power plants during wartime have long been known and largely ignored. Bennett Ramberg, a former foreign affairs officer in the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, literally wrote the book on the matter — Nuclear Power Plants as Weapons for the Enemy, published by the University of California Press in 1984. He’s been ringing the alarms ever since.”
• Delays Mount for Underground Lab Upgrades Seen as Critical for New Navy Nuke: “Upgrades to a nuclear-weapon test facility in Nevada are falling further behind schedule, government officials and weapon-site managers said […]. Officially called Enhanced Capability for Subcritical Experiments (ECSE), the upgrades involve expanding the Nevada National Security Site’s U1a underground complex and installing a sophisticated new X-Ray camera to measure explosive plutonium tests. The expansion has slipped about a year since the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) set the schedule last summer and the equipment could be three years behind or more, owing in part to the materials shortages that began during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Security Culture

• AP Announces Nuclear Security Reporting Initiative: “With journalists in nearly 100 countries, AP will leverage its global reporting network to provide expanded explanatory, visual, enterprise and investigative coverage to inform the general public about nuclear security issues. AP retains editorial control of all content. “From the war in Ukraine to missile tests by North Korea, it is clear there is a pressing need to advance the public understanding of nuclear security issues,” said Ron Nixon, AP vice president for investigations, enterprise, partnerships and grants. “We are working to not only increase the volume and depth of AP’s coverage of nuclear security, but also to equip other news organizations with tools they need to tell the story with context and authority for their own communities.” Additionally, AP will develop ways to help newsrooms improve general news industry understanding of nuclear security issues.
• NRC Issues First Update of 2010 Regulatory Guide to Strengthen Cybersecurity at Nuclear Plants: “The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has updated a 13-year-old guide to protect nuclear plants from cyber-attacks, requiring plans that detail operations and protections against vulnerabilities… The Regulatory Guide posted on the NRC’s website describes “design-basis threats” to be used to build safeguards systems to protect against acts of radiological sabotage and prevent the theft of radiological material…The guidance requires nuclear plants to describe in cybersecurity plans how they have “achieved high assurance” that digital systems are protected from cyberattacks. A plan must demonstrate a safety-related and emergency-preparedness function, including offsite communications.”
• Ukraine Gave up Nuclear Weapons at our Behest. Here’s What We Owe Them: “The world is on the cusp of a dangerous new nuclear era, and the war in Ukraine might be a glimpse of what is to come…But even if the Ukraine war never goes nuclear, any ultimate Russian victory would add to the sense that nuclear weapons are increasingly useful elements of state policy, for both offense and defense…Any outcome to today’s war that fundamentally undermines Ukraine’s long-term sovereignty would add to the argument that Kyiv made a fatal error in giving up on nukes. Such a lesson would inform decision-making in other states.”
• Armenia to Expand Nuclear Security Cooperation with US: “The government of Armenia has approved signing a nuclear safety co-operation agreement with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Under the agreement with the Nuclear Safety Regulatory Committee of Armenia, NRC will support Armenia to strengthen its regulatory body and to develop the skills and abilities of the Armenian NPP personnel. This includes the licensing stages for construction of a new NPP, as well as analysis and assessment of safety.”
• South Korea Defence Paper Calls North ‘Enemy,’ Estimates Plutonium Stockpile at 70kg: “South Korea released its latest defence white paper on Thursday, describing North Korea as its ‘enemy’ for the first time in six years and reporting an increase in Pyongyang’s stockpile of weapons-grade plutonium…The 2022 paper revived the description of the North Korean regime and military as ‘our enemy,’ last used in its 2016 edition, citing Pyongyang’s ongoing weapons development, cyber and military provocations and its recent portrayal of the South as an ‘enemy.’ ‘As North Korea continues to pose military threats without giving up nuclear weapons, its regime and military, which are the main agents of the execution, are our enemies,’ the document said.”
• IAEA Releases Report on Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguards in Ukraine: “The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) issued a report today on Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguards in Ukraine, covering the period between February 2022 and February 2023. The 52-page report provides an overview of the situation and the IAEA’s activities to reduce the likelihood of a nuclear accident during the armed conflict. ‘One year has passed since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, marking the first time in history that a war is being fought amid the facilities of a major nuclear power programme,’ IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said in a foreword of the report. ‘As this tragic war enters its second year, I want to reassure the people of Ukraine and the international community that they can count on the IAEA, and me as its Director General, to do everything possible within our remit to assist them and to avert the danger of a nuclear accident that could cause even more suffering where there is already far too much.’
• How a Radioactive Capsule Was Lost and Improbably Found in the Australian Outback: “At Sue Schmidt’s gas station and roadhouse off a remote highway in the Australian Outback, employees usually watch out for snakes when they are walking outside. But this week, they were looking for something else: A tiny capsule of radioactive material that sparked a search along a roughly 900-mile stretch of the road…Officials were preparing for the possibility of a long search, but there was a breakthrough after just seven says…Authorities say they are now investigating how the capsule of radioactive material, transport for which is heavily regulated, went missing and whether there were any issues in the packaging or trucking of the object.”
• ‘Relatively Common’: WA’s Lost-and-Found Radioactive Capsule not the Only Missing Material Around: “If finding the tiny radioactive capsule that went missing in the vast Australian outback was like finding a needle in a haystack, at least the needle was crying out “here I am!”, Dr Edward Obbard says…The search for the missing capsule captured the world’s imagination, but Obbard says radioactive material goes AWOL about 100 times a year around the world. A radioactive piece of material that is not currently being regulated – that is, it isn’t under some kind of authority or oversight – is known as an “orphan source”. And while Australia is a highly regulated country, it has had its own orphan sources…Globally, the Centre for Nonproliferation Studies’ global incidents and trafficking database shows there have been 1,205 incidents of “nuclear and other radioactive materials outside regulatory control” since 2013.

Evolving and Emerging Technologies

• Keeping Humans in the Loop is not Enough to Make AI Safe for Nuclear Weapons: “Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems suffer from a myriad of unique technical problems that could directly raise the risk of inadvertent nuclear weapons use. To control these issues, the United States and the United Kingdom have committed to keeping humans in the decision-making loop. However, the greatest danger may not lie in the technology itself, but rather in its impact on the humans interacting with it…[The] support for AI integration with nuclear command is happening at the same time as a massive modernization of the US nuclear command apparatus. In the near future, experts foresee AI integration being used to improve the capabilities of early-warning and surveillance systems, comb through large data sets, make predictions about enemy behavior, enhance protection against cyberattacks, and improve communications infrastructure throughout nuclear command systems.”
• Nuclear Energy Security: Sleep Walking into the Next Energy Crisis?: “Nuclear energy produces roughly one fifth of electricity in the EU and USA. Commentators focus on Russia’s dominance over European and American nuclear power in three areas. Firstly, Russia is a major uranium supplier, the material mined for nuclear fuel. Secondly, Russia is even more dominant in developing uranium into nuclear fuel via conversion and enrichment processes, representing 46% of the world’s enrichment capacity. On average, the EU and USA depend on Russia for over 20% of their supplies and services in these areas. Thirdly, commentators note that many nuclear plants in Eastern Europe are Russian made and rely on Russia for maintenance and fuel supply. While Europe and the USA have some counter measures—principally restarting or building processing capacity—these will take time, money, and a thus far absent urgency. Focusing on these areas, particularly Russia’s dominance in processing, is an insufficient analysis of the risks to the West’s nuclear energy security. A broader, more holistic view reveals that uranium is potentially the most vulnerable facet of the nuclear sector. Russia can target the uranium supply beyond its services and trade, and a tight uranium market will amplify the impact of disruptive action.”

Material Minimization

• AUKUS: Biden Urged to Fast-Track Research Into Submarines Using Non-Weapons Grade Uranium: “The Biden administration is being urged to fast-track research into submarines that do not use weapons-grade uranium, as four Democratic politicians warn the AUKUS deal with Australia makes the task “even more pressing”. Australia’s deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, arrived in the United States for crucial talks with the defense secretary, Lloyd Austin, on Friday (US time), amid renewed congressional concerns about aspects of the flagship AUKUS project.”…A newly published letter coordinated by Bill Foster, a physicist serving as US representative for an Illinois congressional district, asks the Biden administration to ramp up research into alternatives to using weapons-grade uranium to power submarines. It adds to concerns already raised by experts that if the Australian submarines are powered by highly enriched uranium (HEU), other countries may seek to follow the precedent – even though they will not be armed with nuclear weapons.”

Member Organization Announcements and Updates

African Center for Science and International Security (AFRICSIS)

•  From February 16-17, AFRICSIS held a High-Level Meeting on Facilitating Adherence to the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (A/CPPNM) in Accra, Ghana. Director Hubert Foy led opening remarks as the talks explored CPPNM and its importance in international nuclear security architecture.

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

• On February 13, 2023, Toby Dalton co-director and senior fellow of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment and Eric Brewer published a commentary, “South Korea Nuclear Flirtations Highlight the Growing Risks of Allied Proliferation” about South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s January comments about his country possibly acquiring nuclear weapons. Read their take.

Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)

• On March 14, 2023, CSIS PONI will host IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi to discuss the Agency’s role in Ukraine and other nuclear issues. Register here.

Henry L. Stimson Center

• Christina McAllister took part in the Virtual Discussion on the 1540 Committee Mandate Renewal and Next Steps organized by the U.S. Department of State on February 16, 2023.

James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS)

• On February 14, 2023, CNS announced the publication of a report, “Radiological Security in Contested Territories: The Successful Case of the Removal of Disused Radioactive Sources and Materials from Transdniestria.” Download the report.
• On February 22, 2023, the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) announced the latest edition of the “Global Incidents and Trafficking Database,” produced by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies exclusively for NTI. The report documents 352 incidents of nuclear and radiological material outside of regulatory control between 2020-2021. Explore the full database.

Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI)

• On February 16, 2023, NTI shared that it is participating in the Munich Security Conference: Advancing Global Nuclear Fail-Safe and Addressing Catastrophic Biological Risks. Learn more.
• On March 2, 2023, NTI will host White House Assistant to the President for Homeland Security Dr. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall and other senior U.S. officials to discuss the Biden Administration’s new WMD strategy. Register here.

Odesa Center for Nonproliferation (OdCNP)

• On February 7, 2023, Ali Alkis presented the international legal framework regarding the attacks against nuclear facilities during a workshop organized by the Foundation for Strategic Research (FRS) and OdCNP in Paris, France.
• On February 21, 2023, Ali Alkis and Valeriia Gergiieva published an article in The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, “Why Russia May Control Turkey’s Nuclear Energy for the Next 80 Years.” Read their analysis.

University of Antwerp

• On February 15, 2023, Tom Sauer of Research Group International Politics at the University of Antwerp, Belgium had an interview with the Clingendael Institute about nuclear threats and the war in Ukraine. Read the Q&A.

Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP)

• On January 26, 2023, the VCDNP hosted a webinar with Dr. Trevor Findlay to discuss his new book, Transforming Nuclear Safeguards Culture: The IAEA, Iran, and the Future of Non-Proliferation, which explores the evolution of organizational culture at the IAEA from pre-1990 to today. Learn about his work.
• On January 31, 2023, the VCDNP and the International Atomic Energy Agency concluded Practical Arrangements in recognition of their cooperative relationship of more than a decade. Read the announcement.
• On February 1, 2023, Senior Research Associate Hanna Notte spoke at a briefing on the future of the New START Treaty. Listen here.

World Institute for Nuclear Security (WINS)

• On March 21, 2023, WINS will host the EMEA and Pacific Edition of the Virtual Tabletop Exercise – “Responding to Nuclear Security Incidents during Transport: Encouraging a More Diverse Workforce.” Register for the event.
• On March 22, 2023, WINS will host the EMEA and Americas Edition of the Virtual Tabletop Exercise – “Responding to Nuclear Security Incidents during Transport: Encouraging a More Diverse Workforce.” Register here.

Individual Member Updates

• Sylvia Mishra, a Senior Nuclear Policy Associate at the Institute for Security and Technology (IST) updated INSF with the following updates:
  • She published “Nuclear Crisis Communications: Mapping Risk Reduction Implementation Pathways” in IST Report on January 23, 2023. Look here.
  • On January 27, 2023, Sylvia Mishra wrote “The Nuclear Risk Reduction Approach: A Useful Path Forward for Crisis Mitigation” in the Asia Pacific Leadership Network. Read more.
  • On December 1, 2022, Sylvia Mishra produced a piece, “Nuclear Risk Reduction: In Search for a Common Denominator.” Read the op-ed.
• Artem Lazarev from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) shared the following updates:
  • On February 6-8 2023, UNODC conducted a mission to the Republic of Mauritius to hold, among other things, held bilateral meetings with high-level representatives of the country on the importance of joining the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT), synergies of this Convention with other treaties in the area of nuclear security and relevant UNODC’s assistance
  • On February 14, 2023, UNODC conducted a country visit to the Republic of Maldives to promote adherence to, and effective implementation of, ICSANT. Both visits took place within the context of the EU-funded project “Union support to promote universalization and effective implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism.”
  • On February 7-8, 2023, UNODC participated in the virtual Middle East and Central Asia Regional Workshop on the Amended Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (A/CPPNM), organized by the NGOs Ambit Advisory and Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), and delivered a presentation on UNODC’s contribution to the universalization and effective implementation of the CPPNM and its Amendment.
  • On 16-17 February, UNODC contributed to the High-Level Meeting on Facilitating Adherence to A/CPPNM in Africa, organized by the African Center for Science and International Security (AFRICSIS). UNODC delivered presentations on its work to promote universalization and implementation of A/CPPNM and synergies with ICSANT, as well as its legislative and capacity-building assistance services, and participated in the open discussion on practical challenges to, and opportunities for, joining nuclear treaties.
• Dr. Bahram Ghiassee, associate fellow of the Henry Jackson Society and Member of the International Nuclear Law Association (Brussels), and the Nuclear Institute (UK), shared the following updates:
  • From April 25-29, 2022, he presented at the IAEA Conference in Vienna, Austria on “International Conference on Nuclear Law: The Global Debate.”
  • Bahram wrote an opinion piece, “The War in Ukraine Contains Lessons for Iran” in March 2022. Read the op-ed.
  • In July 2022, he issued a research report on “Radiological Terrorism: A Global Policy Challenge in Need of Urgent Action” through the Henry Jackson Society. Learn more.
  • In October 2022, Bahram published “The Need to Enhance the International Legal and Institutional Frameworks Governing Radioactive Sources and Radiological Facilities,” Nuclear Future (UK Nuclear Institute J) 18, no. 5 (October 2022).
  • On January 13, 2023, he commented on the detection of uranium at the Heathrow Airport. Ghiassee countered claims that the uranium found at Heathrow could have been intended for a dirty bomb and explained that uranium in its natural form poses little threat to public health. Read the article.
  • On January 22, he was quoted by the Sunday Express on Iran’s nuclear program and enrichment process. Read the full piece.
  • Bahram also published a January 2022 report, The Vulnerabilities of Iran’s Nuclear Facilities to Drone Strikes that resonates with the recent drone strikes on military installations and other infrastructure in Iran. Explore the report.
  • February 20, 2023, Bahram served as an expert for a Voice of America (Farsi) interview on “Iran’s Nuclear Weapons, Capabilities in Light of Uranium Enrichment at 84%.” Watch here.
  • Under his supervision, the following MSc dissertation projects were completed in September 2022 at the University of Surrey Physics Department:
    • “Radiological Terrorism is Posing a Major Threat at International, Regional, and National Levels, Requiring Counter Measures to be Instituted Urgently.”
    • “Micro-Reactors (MRs) and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) Are Proving to Be the Technology Choice for the Next Generation of Nuclear Power Reactors Across the Globe.”
    • “To Counter the Threat of Radiological Terrorism, Action Must be Taken at International, Regional, and National Levels.”
    • “‘Emerging Technologies’ Are Posing Threats to the Security of Nuclear Weapons Systems and Civil Nuclear Facilities.”
• Igor Khripunov, a former nonresident fellow of the Stimson Center, recently published his book, Human Factor in Nuclear Security. His work provides an applicable framework for developing a shared architecture of CBRN culture and offers an approach to make the human factor an asset for a robust nuclear security regime. Check out his book.

Opportunities

• The Partnership for Global Security (PGS) is currently seeking applications for the Della Ratta Fellowship. The Fellow will conduct policy research related to the intersection of nuclear energy, climate change, and global security. This is a six-month stipend-supported fellowship. To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to [email protected] by April 14, 2023. Click here to learn more about the application.
• The IAEA launched a new initiative, the Lise Meitner Programme (LMP), which provides early- and mid‑career women professionals with opportunities to participate in a multiweek visiting professional programme and advance their technical and soft skills. Professionals are invited to submit applications to join the programme by March 19, 2023. Learn more and apply.
• The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) is accepting applications for a Research Assistant and Programme Administrator for Defence and Military Analysis Programme at its London Office. The position will assist the Defense and Military Analysis Programme in the implementation of the Missile Dialogue Initiative, a multi-year Track 1.5 project that seeks to strengthen international discussion and to promote a high-level exchange of views on missile technologies and related international security dynamics. Apply here.
• CRDF Global is hiring a Program Manager for its Nuclear Security Team. View the vacancy.
• George Washington University is searching for a Program Manager for Nuclear Security Engagement. Apply for the role.
• The National Nuclear Security Administration is looking for an Associate Administrator for Defense Nuclear Security and Chief of Defense Nuclear Security. Learn more.
• The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) is offering an opportunity to join its Proliferation and Nuclear Policy Programme (PNP). The Programme Manager would support the work of the PNP team, and other RUSI research groups on an ad hoc basis. This is a chance to make a substantial contribution to the day to day running of the PNP team and support high-level dialogues on nuclear policy, research on nuclear and chemical weapons issues in North Korea and Iran, and the UK Project on Nuclear Issues, a next-generation network connecting emerging nuclear professionals to established experts in the field. Apply for the position by March 3, 2023.
• The NATO Defense College Research Division, in collaboration with the Nuclear Policy Directorate at NATO Headquarters recently announced a call for applicants for the 5th Annual Early-Career Nuclear Strategists Workshop (ECNSW), to be hosted in-person at the NATO Defense College in Rome, Italy on 21-23 June 2023. Learn more and apply.
• The Public Policy and Nuclear Threats Boot Camp at UC San Diego is open for applications. The 2023 PPNT Boot Camp will be hosted by IGCC at UC San Diego from July 9–21 and is open to all graduate-level students, post-docs, and professionals, and features lectures, discussions, debates, and policy simulations. Participants attend talks by distinguished researchers, academics, policy officials, and operational specialists from leading universities, the National Laboratories, international organizations, and government agencies dealing with nuclear threats, command and control, international safeguards, nonproliferation strategies, and other nuclear issues. Read more to apply.
• Center for New American Security (CNAS) is hosting The Pitch: A Competition of New Ideas, its annual premier event to elevate emerging and diverse voices in national security. Selected applicants will make their pitch for innovative policy ideas to meet new challenges in U.S. national security policy in front of a distinguished panel of judges. Apply by March 12, 2023.
• The Wilson Center is now accepting applications for the 2023 Nuclear History Boot Camp. Aimed at building a new generation of experts on the international history of nuclear weapons, the eleventh Nuclear History Boot Camp is an initiative of the Nuclear Proliferation International History Project (NPIHP). NPIHP’s Nuclear History Boot Camp is an intensive, eight-day immersion in the history of nuclear matters ranging from the evolution of nuclear technology to the origins and development of deterrence theory and nuclear strategy through the historical roots of today’s global nuclear landscape. Applications due March 7, 2023. Learn more.
• Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS) and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), in support of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), are pleased to announce the 2023 International Nuclear Safeguards Policy and Information Analysis Course, a one-week, tuition-free, intensive course in Monterey, California (or online due to Covid-19 restrictions), and up to six paid summer internships at LLNL. The course is tuition free and open to all nationalities. Some stipends may be available to nonlocal applicants to partially cover transportation and housing. Course applicants who are U.S. citizens may also apply for a ten-week paid internship at LLNL. The internships pay $6,000 total, which is paid in two installments of $3,000. A selection panel will interview qualified applicants for internships. Successful completion of the course is a prerequisite for the internships. Apply by March 3, 2023. Apply here.