A Nuclear Energy Renaissance: Challenges to Nuclear Weapon Nonproliferation
Abstract
The potential for explosive growth in the world's utilization of nuclear energy is looming on the horizon. Energy security and environmental concerns about burning fossil fuels are driving what could be the biggest expansion in nuclear power since the 1960s. This significant expansion, while beneficial to the world's nations, carries the risk of a rapid expansion in the number of nuclear weapons-capable nations. This is a real threat to future U.S. security and poses challenges to U.S. and world nonproliferation efforts. The weak link in a nonproliferation regime for a world characterized by a high level nuclear latency is the access to enrichment and reprocessing technology. Diversions from steps in the fuel cycle pose the greatest risk to the development of weapons in undesirable countries. The three international proposals led by the United States, Russia, and the IAEA hope to greatly reduce the diversionary loop-hole in the NPT. The surest way to prevent proliferation out of regional security concerns is to at least maintain the status quo and prevent any new regional powers from arising. Security assurances that no new nuclear weapon states will be tolerated by the international community are essential. This paper analyzes the three suggested approaches to the problem and sets forth recommendations for U.S. nonproliferation policy.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 30, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA510856
Entities
People
- David A. Lagraffe
Organizations
- United States Army War College