Experts Disappointed by Failure to Extend G-8 Global Partnership

fissile materials working group

The Fissile Materials Working Group (FMWG), a nongovernmental coalition of over 40 U.S. experts representing many of the top nonproliferation and nuclear security organizations in the country and also includes several international partner organizations. Members of the FMWG collaborate in a series of meetings designed to create consensus behind top fissile materials priorities, develop actionable policy proposals, and package recommendations for implementation by U.S. and foreign government officials.

The FMWG has been a forceful presence in support of improved fissile material security and the prevention of nuclear terrorism. Important milestones for the FMWG include the publication of its consensus recommendations to the Obama Administration for improving nuclear material security (September 2009); the convening of a summit of international experts and supporting events in support of the official Nuclear Security Summit (April 2010); and a series of regional meetings to explore international perspectives on nuclear security (October 2010 - April 2011). These activities highlight the urgency of this agenda and engage a broad array of international stakeholders. Please click here for a summary of the FMWG's acitivites to date. To view the FMWG's condensed work plan, please click here.

Media Contact:
Sean Harder
sharder@stanleyfoundation.org
319-455-6397

The Steering Committee is comprised of the following professionals:

Kenneth N. Luongo, President, Partnership for Global Security (co-chair)
Alexandra Toma, Executive Director, Connect U.S. Fund (co-chair)
Matthew Bunn, Associate Professor of Public Policy; Co-Principal Investigator, Project on Managing the Atom; Co-Principal Investigator, Energy Research, Development, Demonstration, and Deployment (ERD3) Policy Project, Harvard University
Togzhan Kassenova, Associate, Nuclear Policy Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Miles Pomper, Senior Research Associate, James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies
Jennifer Smyser, Program Officer, Policy and Outreach, The Stanley Foundation
Sharon Squassoni, Director and Senior Fellow, Proliferation Prevention Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies
Benn Tannenbaum, Non-Resident Fellow, Center for Science, Technology, and Security Policy, American Association for the Advancement of Science
Paul Walker, Director, Security & Sustainability, Global Green USA

Key Staff:

Ryan Costello

FMWG Coordinator

Rcostello@connectusfund.org

202-721-5600 x. 5724

Michelle Marchesano
mmarchesano@partnershipforglobalsecurity.org
202-332-1412

Experts Disappointed by Failure to Extend G-8 Global Partnership

Release Date:

06-26-10

Toronto, Ontario – The Fissile Materials Working Group (FMWG), a coalition of leading nuclear security experts, is disappointed G-8 leaders’ failed to renew their commitment to address the spread of materials and weapons of mass destruction, and to prevent nuclear terrorism. Leaders instead opted to “evaluate” the geographic expansion and renewed funding commitments for the G-8 Global Partnership.

“The G-8 Global Partnership is a vital multilateral mechanism for securing nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction. Its geographic expansion and renewed funding commitment are essential for international security,” said Kenneth Luongo, president of the Partnership for Global Security and co-chair of the FMWG.

“It is very disappointing, and extremely short-sighted, for the G-8 to have not extended the Global Partnership program – an effort specifically designed to lock down or eliminate weapons of mass destruction that threaten every corner of the globe. With the US already picking up about $1.5 billion of the $2 billion per year for that program the rest of the G-8 nations would have only had to contribute a half a billion per year collectively, or $ 5 billion over 10 years. With the G-8 nations representing 44% of global GDP, that is more than an affordable investment in preventing a WMD terrorist incident. If a nuclear or biological terrorist event occurs, it will significantly impact the economy of every nation.”

Alexandra Toma, Program Director at the Connect U.S. Fund and co-chair of the FMWG, underscored the challenge ahead: “Nuclear terrorism is a top security threat to not only the United States but to many countries across the world. We must continue to work with our international partners to keep vulnerable nuclear materials from getting in the hands of those who wish to do us harm.” She added, “The G-8 Global Partnership is a crucial part of combating that threat. So, we are very disappointed that world leaders did not agree to extend this vital multilateral effort to prevent WMD proliferation.”

Matthew Bunn, associate professor at the Harvard Kennedy School and author of the Securing the Bomb series, said any delay in the renewal of the Global Partnership is dangerous.

“We must avoid repeating the delays and funding shortfalls of the early days of the Global Partnership, if nuclear security improvements are to get to these stockpiles before terrorists and thieves do.”

The Fissile Materials Working Group (FMWG) is a coalition of more than 40 leading experts in nuclear security. It was formed to support and help implement the goal of securing all vulnerable nuclear materials as quickly as possible.

For more information, visit www.fmwg.org. Call 912-210-2862 for an interview.