Nuclear security

Weapons of mass destruction: the Russian challenge

More than 12 years have passed since the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1540, which affirms that the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is a threat to international peace and security, and recognizes the need to keep such weapons out of the hands of non-state actors—particularly extremist and terrorist groups. To deal with this common threat, UN member states pledged to adopt national legislation and establish domestic controls.

Resolution 1540 represents an enduring challenge for the Russian Federation, a country that possesses the know-how and the means to design, make, and deliver weapons of mass destruction. Russia is capable of creating nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. To secure these capabilities, and to meet its commitments under Resolution 1540, Russia should create a special program to seek out radioactive material within Soviet-era facilities, and should work with other members of the Eurasian Economic Union to establish a common response to the threat of radicalized groups.