Publication

In his Prague speech in April 2009 President Obama raised the profile of nuclear security issues. At the following G8 L’Aquila summit, he declared his intention to host a major Summit on nuclear security in Washington DC. The summit will take place on 12-13 April 2010. Representatives of over 40 countries will attend it, including some not signed up to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, such as Israel, India and Pakistan. This background brief addresses five questions in relation to it: Why is nuclear security important today? What measures have already been taken to address the issue? What progress has been made to date? What are the main remaining weaknesses and gaps in the current international response? And finally, what must the Washington Summit focus on if it is to add real extra value and be classified as a success?