The Future of Nuclear Security - Finding Synergies in all the Right Places

Discussion on evolving developments in science and technology and potential impacts on international security, and the lowering of barriers for non-state actors to gain access to materials and manufacturing techniques for the development and use weapons of mass destruction were at the core of 2022 Comprehensive Review of the Status of Implementation of Resolution 1540. While nuclear security accomplishments to date have made great strides in meeting the non-state actor threat, more work needs to be done to identify methodologies that prevent and respond to non-state actor acquisition and use of nuclear and radioactive materials. Due to the changing set political and financial challenges faced by the global nuclear nonproliferation and counter-terrorism community, the need for innovation to stay ‘one step ahead’ of determined adversaries who threaten nuclear security around the world has never been greater. While many will argue that accomplishments of the past decades have adequately addressed nuclear security threats, the fact remains that there are existing and developing gaps within the global nuclear security architecture. International practitioners must become nimbler in their approach to continue the evolution of an effective and enduring global nuclear security system. It is critical to identify mechanisms to continue to address outstanding commitments, preserve gains already achieved, continue to reinforce the basis for nuclear security and incentivize national implementation. This paper provides an overview of three synergistic approaches nuclear security practitioners should consider in addressing existing and developing gaps within the global nuclear security infrastructure: 1. Development of stronger engagement with industry through value-based incentives to ensure that nuclear security is not creating an undue burden on commercial operation and thus ensuring greater adherence to international good practices; 2. Identification and deepening of collaborative relationships with nuclear safety and safeguards practitioners, in particular those focusing on operations, equipment and human resource development; and 3. Universalization of and demonstration of compliance with the international nuclear counterterrorism and nonproliferation legal framework (e.g. International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism) through implementation of complementary nuclear security capacities (e.g. nuclear forensics).