Evaluating the Accomplishments of the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program
Abstract
This thesis offers an analytical survey of evaluations of the effectiveness of the U.S-sponsored Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) program. The CTR remains the principal source of U.S.-Russian interactions regarding WMD proliferation. Russia's internal problems, including political, economic, military and social instability, have created the risk that rogue states or terrorists may attempt to exploit the uncertainties in Russia to buy or steal nuclear weapons and/or materials and/or to acquire the expertise to develop a nuclear capability. This thesis explores four competing perspectives in the United States on the accomplishments of the CTR's nuclear agenda. The key points of discord among the competing schools of thought include the significance of limitations on the ability of the United States to effectively monitor and accurately assess the contributions of the program, and the expansion of the program to include projects that do not directly concern weapons dismantlement. This thesis concludes that the CTR's contributions to countermg WMD proliferation could be more effectively pursued if the United States enhanced the quality of the CTR and worked cooperatively with Russia to address the full spectrum of common interests. The thesis also finds that if Russia fails to develop an enduring safeguard culture much of the CTR assistance may prove to have been of no avail.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA386817
Entities
People
- Stacy A. Grams
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School