Nonproliferation and Threat Reduction Assistance: U.S. Programs in the Former Soviet Union

reportActive / Technical Report | Accession Number: ADA472670 | Open PDF

Abstract:

Congress passed the Nunn-Lugar amendment, authorizing U.S. threat reduction assistance to the former Soviet Union, in November 1991, after a failed coup in Moscow and the disintegration of the Soviet Union raised concerns about the safety and security of Soviet nuclear weapons. The annual program has grown from 400 million in the Department of Defense DoD budget to over 900 million across three agencies -- DoD 409.2 million, Department of Energy DOE 439 million, and the State Department DOS 70 million. It also has evolved from an emergency response to impending chaos in the Soviet Union, to a more comprehensive threat reduction and nonproliferation effort, to a broader program seeking to keep nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons from leaking out of the former Soviet Union and into the hands of rogue nations or terrorist groups. The DoD manages the Cooperative Threat Reduction CTR Program, which provides Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan with assistance in transporting, storing, and dismantling nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. U.S. assistance has helped these nations eliminate the delivery systems for nuclear weapons under the START I Treaty, secure weapons storage areas, construct a storage facility for nuclear materials removed from weapons, construct a destruction facility for chemical weapons, and secure biological weapons materials. The DOS manages the International Science and Technology Centers in Moscow and Kiev. These centers provide research grants to scientists and engineers so that they will not sell their knowledge to other nations or terrorist groups. The DOS also has provided assistance with export and border control programs in the former Soviet states. The DOE manages programs that seek to improve the security of nuclear materials at civilian, naval, and nuclear weapons complex facilities. This report discusses numerous issues related to U.S. nonproliferation and threat reduction assistance.

Author(s):
Woolf, Amy F.
Author Organization(s):
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE
Descriptive Note:
Congressional rept.
Supplementary Note:
CRS Report for Congress.
Pagination:
0053

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution:
Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement:
Approved For Public Release; Distribution Is Unlimited.

RECORD

Collection: TR
Identifying Numbers
Report Number(s):
CRS-RL31957
Monitor Series:
CRS/DC
 Subject Terms
Joint Capability Areas:
JCA_7_Protection; JCA_7.2.1_Mitigate Lethal Effects; JCA_7.2_Mitigate; JCA_7.1.1_Prevent Kinetic Attack; JCA_7.1_Prevent; JCA_5_Command and Control; JCA_4.6.1_General Engineering; JCA_4.6_Engineering; JCA_4.7.2_Installation Services; JCA_4.7_Base and Installations Support; JCA_5.5_Direct; JCA_5.5.1_Communicate Intent and Guidance; JCA_5.1.1_Establish and Maintain Unity of Effort with Mission Partners; JCA_5.1_Organize; JCA_5.3_Planning; JCA_4.2_Supply; JCA_4.2.2_Inventory Management; JCA_4.2.1_Manage Supplies and Equipment; JCA_1.2.3_Educating; JCA_5.3.2_Apply Situational Understanding; JCA_5.2.2_Develop Knowledge and Situational Awareness
Modernization Areas:
Biotechnology
Communities of Interest:
Biomedical
Descriptor(s):
*NUCLEAR WEAPONS, *SECURITY, *DEMILITARIZATION, *CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENTS, *LEGISLATION, *BIOLOGICAL WARFARE AGENTS, *CIS, *DISARMAMENT, TERRORISTS, TRANSPORTATION, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, RUSSIA, ENGINEERS, DISPOSAL, DEPARTMENT OF STATE, KAZAKHSTAN, BELARUS, UKRAINE, SCIENTISTS, PLUTONIUM, FEDERAL BUDGETS, COOPERATION, STORAGE, TREATIES, MASS DESTRUCTION WEAPONS, FISSIONABLE MATERIALS, EXPORTS, GOVERNMENT(FOREIGN), THREATS
Field(s)/Group(s):
Government and Political Science, Sociology and Law, Chemical, Biological and Radiological Warfare, Fission Reactor Materials, Nuclear Weapons
Keyword(s):
*NUNN LUGAR AMENDMENT, *WEAPONS NONPROLIFERATION, *THREAT REDUCTION ASSISTANCE, ROGUE NATIONS, NONSTATE ACTORS, CTR(COOPERATIVE THREAT REDUCTION PROGRAM), BORDER SECURITY, PROLIFERATION PREVENTION, EXPORT CONTROLS, NUCLEAR SCIENTISTS, NUCLEAR ENGINEERS, DOE(DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY), TRANSPORTATION SECURITY, WEAPONS STORAGE SECURITY, FISSILE MATERIALS STORAGE, GEORGE W BUSH ADMINISTRATION, START I TREATY
Report Date:
2004 Jun 17
Creation Date:
2007 Oct 17