Tensions Impede US-Russia Nuclear Security Cooperation - US Nuclear Body

Worsening relations between the US and Russia are hampering important joint security programs, the US National Nuclear Security Agency (NNSA) said.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Political tensions between the United States and Russia are impacting the ability of the two countries to cooperate on nuclear security, the US National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) said in a report on Monday.

“Worsening bilateral relations have affected the ability for International Nuclear Security (INS) [program] to continue major cooperative projects in Russia,” the NNSA said.

“Given the size of Russia’s stockpile of Weapons-Usable Nuclear Material, INS will continue to look for partnership opportunities with Russia to address common nuclear security challenges,” it added.

In 2013, Russia ended cooperation with the United States on the protection, control and accounting of nuclear material at weapons sites. Russia ended such cooperation at civilian nuclear sites in 2014.

The INS program, located within the Global Material Security (GMS) Program, supports countries to, protect, control and account for nuclear material, including inspections, regulations training and security upgrades to ensure nuclear material doesn’t fall into the wrong hands through theft or diversion.

The NNDS said political issues with Russia may affect implementation of many key programs designed to properly monitor and dispose of nuclear and radioactive material, including cooperation on cross-border monitoring, theft and disposal.

The US and Russia cooperated closely for nearly two decades on nuclear issues before political tensions over Ukraine and Western sanctions led to a near end in nuclear security cooperation.

NNDS said, however, the United States would try to cooperate with Russia on nuclear security when possible and “with appropriate authorization.”

Following the break-up of the Soviet Union, the United States aided Russia and former Soviet states to securely store, dispose and transport nuclear and radioactive material under a number of bilateral agreements.