Nuclear security

U.S.-Russian Nuclear Diplomacy is Deadlocked

During last week’s session of the Disarmament Commission at UN Headquarters, Moscow and Washington discussed the obstacles to negotiating the reduction of their respective nuclear arsenals. This was at once full of significance and, ultimately, empty.

The terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels, along with the crash of a Russian aircraft in Egypt, demonstrated the capability of Islamic State terrorists and the ineffectiveness of the existing security system. Acting within the borders of several countries in the Middle East, Islamic State has raised the question among experts and politicians about the chances of its acquiring a nuclear weapon or radioactive materials. In theory, there is a risk of ISIS creating a dirty bomb, which would require a small amount of radioactive material; the possibility of acquiring or stealing some remains high.