Thinking Big on Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Posted by benarmstrong on 6/10/2009 6:22:36 PM.
This policy was first proposed by Brookings Institution, Carlos Pascual and Steven Pifer.
Level of Government: National
Status: Proposed

Abstract
Background:
As Iran continues its pursuit of nuclear technology and a host of unstable nations declare their willingness to do the same, nuclear non-proliferation is a crucially important objective.  Pascual and Pifer outline the main points that a nuclear non-proliferation policy should include.
Purpose:
The Brookings plan seeks to revise the 1968 Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in order to further diminish the size of existing nuclear aresenals, enhance deterrents to gaining nuclear status,  shielding nuclear material from radical control and open new pathways for non-nuclear states to access safe, civilian nuclear power.
Plans:
Russia and the United States should take the lead in specific policy action.

First, both parties should reduce their deployed nuclear weapons below 1500 warheads each.  They should also begin diplomatic talks on 'non-deployed strategic warheads and tactical nuclear weapons.’ The US Senate must 'ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.'

Second, both parties should begin diplomatic action that would expand NPT's coverage to all states, and add a new protocol to the NPT that commits signatories to embolden barriers to 'the misuse of civil nuclear technology.' Parties should also begin to discuss a treaty that would 'ban the production of all new fissile material.'

Third, both parties should improve the storage of highly-enriched uranium and begin to buy back such uranium from other parties.  The returned uranium should be 'blended down' to low enriched uranium

Fourth, there should be a joint, internationally-monitored program by which both parties produce low enriched uranium for international sale.

Fifth, permanent members of the UN Security Council + Germany should push Iran to place its nuclear program under international supervision.  As incentives, it should offer normalized relations for compliance and even tougher sanctions for non-compliance.
 
Resources:
The plan will require a great deal of diplomatic initiative from Russia and the United States. Senate approval will be required for treaty ratification; implementation of nuclear reduction, production and sale will take place within the executive.

Policy Details
Nuclear terrorism is considered one of the gravest threats to American national security.  The primary goal is to ensure that non-state radical cannot obtain a nuclear weapon.  Since open access to nuclear weapons technology has the potential to threaten all states, there is certainly shared national security interest in revising the international NPT, improving nuclear storage and preventing unstable regimes and non-state actors from obtaining such capacity.
The Brookings plan proposes mulilateral diplomatic engagement between the UN Security Council + Germany and Iran with the goal of subjecting Iran's nuclear development to international monitoring or stopping it entirely.
Pascual and Pifer argue that these diplomatic initiatives would do wonders to strengthen the relationship between Russia and the US.  Promoting these changes bilaterally would also arrange the US and Russia as the duo prepared to take on crucial threats of international instability.  This initiative would carry a message that the US and Russia are still the two forces that carry significant geopolitical clout.
The ultimate goal of the Brooking Plan is to reduce the overall number and threat of nuclear weapons.  Russia and the US will reduce their deployed weapons and will seek to eliminate highly-enriched uranium from other states.  With more parties to a stronger NPT, the future of nuclear weapons proliferation would be bleak.  Moreover, the plan is to better control the nuclear material that has already been enriched.
Constructive bilateral diplomacy is the primary method to implement this plan.  The United States and the Russians would galvanize a coalition behind non-proliferation in order to reach the stated goals of arms reduction, safe storage and improved monitoring.
Related Links
"Thinking Big on Non-Proliferation" Article: This is the full-text of the article that outlines the entire Brookings Instituion proposal.

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