A weapon of mass destruction wmd is a weapon be it nuclear, radiological, chemical, biological, or explosive that can kill or injure large numbers of people or greatly damage the infrastructure of a country or region. Rand provides policymakers with objective guidance and recommendations to improve wmd preparedness, detection, and response, as well as international collaboration to. Homeland security has gutted programs aimed at stopping. This paper examines four pressing wmd challenges for the next u. List of weapons of mass destruction treaties wikipedia. Efforts must be made to ensure that the epidemic will. A critical priority for the united states is to stem the proliferation of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction and their missile delivery systems.
Strategy to combat the proliferation of weapons of. Efforts to control the spread of wmd are enshrined in international agreements such as the nuclear nonproliferation treaty of 1968, the biological weapons convention of 1972, and the chemical weapons convention of 1993. While active in efforts to prevent other countries from obtaining nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction, these nuclear powers have all shied. Weapons of mass destruction are defined as those devices capable of extensive destruction when deployed in a manner intended to destroy large numbers of people. Such efforts had been coordinated by strategic commands center for combating weapons of mass destruction, or sccwmd, at fort belvoir, va. Weapons of mass destruction wmds constitute a class of weaponry with the. In his study, eliminating weapons of mass destruction.
Prevention of weapons of mass destruction proliferation and. Combating the spread of weapons of mass destruction. Rand provides policymakers with objective guidance and recommendations to improve wmd preparedness, detection, and response, as well as international. Strategy to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction robert g. National strategy to combat weapons of mass destruction december 2002 the gravest danger our nation faces lies at the crossroads of radicalism and technology. With the end of the cold war, these efforts have become even more essentialand even more complex. Science and technology and the nonproliferation of weapons. Theyve been around for thousands of years as poisoned arrows, lethal smoke, or noxious fumes, but following their use they were eventually considered too cruel and unfair for civilized battle, and efforts were made to ban them.
Defining weapons of mass destruction this paper rejects such arguments. Understanding the motivations for proliferation in the postcold war environment is essential to this task. Nov 03, 2016 the 2015 national security strategy identifies the proliferation andor use of weapons of mass destruction wmd among the top strategic risks to the nations interests. Week one introduction to regulatory issues in weapons of mass destruction. Nov 14, 2016 week one introduction to regulatory issues in weapons of mass destruction. Executive order 12938 proliferation of weapons of mass. The persian gulf case, shahram chubin looks at the role of wmd in the persian gulf and the obstacles to eliminating mass destruction weapons in the region. The history of weapons control has also included treaties to limit effective defense against weapons of mass destruction in order to preserve the deterrent doctrine of mutual assured destruction antiballistic missile treaty as well as treaties to limit the spread of nuclear technologies geographically african nuclear weapons free zone. The proliferation of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction wmd, and their delivery systems, could have incalculable consequences for national, regional and global security. The united states institute of peace has attempted to make a limited but important contribution to furth ering the understanding of some of the most critical global and regional issues surrounding weapons of mass destruction and arms control, primarily through its grant program.
The arms control, disarmament, and wmd nonproliferation centre. Oct 11, 2001 mass destruction weapons pose greatest threat, yet disarmament pledges largely unmet, says nigeria in first committees general debate. Define the nature and varieties of the primary internal. A central focus of the projects research efforts are evolving national and international perceptions of the benefits, costs, and risks associated with weapons of mass destruction.
Weapons of mass destruction deals with a deadly subject and a scourge of humankind. In spite of international arms control efforts, and various discussions of weapons of mass destruction free zones in the middle east, the major powers in the region clearly see chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear cbrn weapons as key instruments of power. The evolving threat from weapons of mass destruction in. Accordingly, the secretary of state shall cooperate in and lead multilateral efforts to stop the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of. This massive effort is underpinned by a global architecture of arms control and nonproliferation treaties that define the obligations of. Demonstrating tangible efforts to ensure that sensitive equipment, materials and technology intended for legitimate purposes do not fall into the wrong hands builds trust and.
This week we will focus on co1 define the nature and varieties of the primary internal federal regulatory efforts that govern weapons of mass destruction. Weapons of mass destruction proliferation center for strategic and. Weapons of mass destruction national defense university press. Given the differing but complimentary roles of chemical and nuclear capabilities, approaching north korea with the idea of limiting or removing these capabilities together, as some u. Weapons of mass destruction and other strategic weapons. The international security program and the project on nuclear issues conduct timely research and analysis on countering the spread of weapons of mass destruction from the continued use of chemical weapons in syria to the threat posed by nonstate actors to the effort to prevent further nuclear proliferation. The growth in terrorists capabilities and aspirations and the spread of dualuse tech nology have made the threat of weapons of mass destruction wmd terrorism pro gressively more acute, requiring a comprehensive strategy to defend the united states and its interests. Continuing threat from weapons of mass destruction central.
A weapon of mass destruction wmd is a nuclear, radiological, chemical, biological, or any other weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to numerous humans or cause great damage to humanmade structures e. Jessica eve sterns research on terrorism and weapons of mass destruction suggests that the debate on this issue needs to move away from the two extreme ends of the spectrum. Jun 01, 2014 june 1, 2014 the longstanding efforts of the international community writ large to exclude weapons of mass destruction wmd from international competition and conflict could be undermined in 2030. Weapons of mass destruction in the middle east stimson center. Contrary to the views of many pundits, there is an authoritative definition for wmd. In the effort to reduce weapons of mass destruction, the glass. The threat of weapons of mass destruction assembles research studies that analyze the weapons, efforts to control, and proliferation. Weapons of mass destruction and international law asil. Mar 01, 2018 countering this shadowy threat requires close collaboration beyond any one countrys borders. Tackling weapons of mass destruction in africa world. Nov 24, 2014 international efforts to keep weapons of mass destruction out of the hands of nonstate actors must be continually strengthened through stepped. Weapons of mass destruction unrcpd united nations regional.
Weapon of mass destruction wmd, weapon with the capacity to inflict death and destruction on such a massive scale and so indiscriminately that its very presence in the hands of a hostile power can be considered a grievous threat. Counterproliferation involves efforts to combat the spread or growth of weapons conventional weapons, weapons of mass destruction, and related technologythat threaten the united states. In addition to the dictionary of terms covering conventional, chemical, biological, and nuclear arms control, it also includes useful sections providing a historical chronology of arms control agreements and a glossary of acronyms from antiballistic missile abm to weapons of mass destruction wmd. Weapons of mass destruction can be high explosives, nuclear or radiological devices, chemical or biological weapons, or any other device, even those not yet developed or disclosed, that. Counterproliferation involves efforts to combat the spread or growth of weaponsconventional weapons, weapons of mass destruction, and related technologythat threaten the united. In such a situation, the international community should unite its efforts to enhance control over the weapons of mass destruction. Director deutch observed last week, i think a tremendous amount of progress has been done. Defeat activities fall into two categories, pathway defeat and wmd defeat, both of which involve joint force efforts to delay, disrupt, destroy, andor neutralize wmd threats. The perceived threat from weapons of mass destruction wmd has become one of the most important issues on foreign policy and national security agendas. Continuing threat from weapons of mass destruction. The term is integral to the international communitys longstanding disarmament dialogue. May 03, 2016 before unscr 1540, arms control efforts were piecemeal and uneven, with different agreements restricting specific categories of weapons. Dec 12, 2016 15 the russian federation reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in response to use against it and or its allies of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, as well as in the case of aggression against the russian federation with the use of conventional weapons, when under threat to the very existence of the state. Any ambitions these two countries may have to build nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons are particularly troubling given iran and iraqs long history of eliminating weapons.
Chemical weapons did not become true weapons of mass destruction wmd until they were introduced in their modern form in world war i 191418. The unscr 1540 approach subjects all wmds to the same standard. The ministers discussed many topics including the situation in syria, the arms trade treatys adoption, the threat of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, outer space security, and the establishment of a wmd freezone in the middle east, iran, and the democratic peoples republic of korea dprk. It is the policy of the united states to lead and seek multilaterally coordinated efforts with other countries to control the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivering such weapons. Accordingly, the secretary of state shall cooperate in and lead multilateral efforts to stop the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.
The fbi is the lead federal agency for responding to threats from weapons of mass destruction wmd. The international community can draw on its lessons for nuclear disarmament and efforts to make bioweapons obsolete as tools of mass destruction. June 1, 2014 the longstanding efforts of the international community writ large to exclude weapons of mass destruction wmd from international competition and conflict could be undermined in 2030. The wmd threat has, for example, profoundly influenced the bush administrations national security and homeland security strategies. National strategy for countering weapons of mass destruction. Chemical weapon weapons of mass destruction britannica. Prevention of weapons of mass destruction proliferation and terrorism. Chemical weapon chemical weapon weapons of mass destruction. Oehler, director, nonproliferation center to the senate armed services committee the continuing threat from weapons of mass destruction. Council decision in support of a process of confidencebuilding leading to the establishment of a zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction in the middle east decision 2019938cfsp action through the g7g8.
A weapon of mass destruction is a nuclear, radiological, chemical, biological, or other device that is intended to harm a large number of people. Global partnership against the spread of weapons and. The end of cold war confrontation has enabled historic reductions in nuclear arms and other weapons of mass destruction, and the specter of nuclear annihilation has receded dramatically. Weapons of mass destruction the united states faces a rising danger from terrorists and rogue states seeking to use weapons of mass destruction. National strategy to combat weapons of mass destruction. Our enemies have openly declared that they are seeking weapons of mass destruction, and evidence indicates that they are doing so with determination. Weapons of mass destruction wmds constitute a class of weaponry with the potential to, in a single moment, kill millions of civilians, jeopardize the natural environment, and fundamentally alter the world and the lives of future generations through their catastrophic effects. United states to lead and seek multilaterally coordinated efforts with other countries to control the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivering such weapons. Under the category of improving security, the summit addressed five primary topics. On may 31 in krakow, poland, president bush announced a new effort to combat weapons of mass destruction wmd, called the proliferation security initiative. In actuality, one country alone cannot cope with the threat of using the weapons of mass destruction, while the rise of the international terrorism increases this treat. Executive order 12938 united states department of the.
This massive effort is underpinned by a global architecture of arms control and nonproliferation treaties that define the obligations of governments to prevent the illegal export or use of weapons of mass destruction. Jun 20, 2008 us efforts to counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction have enjoyed some successes over the past several years. Two of the countries of greatest proliferation concerniran and iraqare located in the gulf region. Arms control discussions that focus on just one of these capabilities might not be able to lead to the removal of other types of weapons of mass destruction. Continuing threat from weapons of mass destruction continuing threat from weapons of mass destruction. Innovation in countering weapons of mass destruction. Preventing the further proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. During the next decade, proliferation will remain most acute in some of the worlds most volatile regions. North koreas other weapons of mass destruction arms. Apr 25, 2018 toxic weapons made of chemicals are nothing new. Several treaties also exist to prevent the proliferation of missiles and related. Weapons of mass destruction european external action service. International efforts crucial to keeping weapons of mass.
The 2015 national security strategy identifies the proliferation andor use of weapons of mass destruction wmd among the top strategic risks to the nations interests. The effort to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons beyond the five permanent members of the security council has been more successful than many had thought. Weapons of mass destruction and other strategic weapons we work to support progress in nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation, addressing all aspects of the nuclear dilemma, from delivery vehicles and security policies to the benefits and risks of nuclear technology. Joseph, under secretary for arms control and international security written statement to the senate armed services committee subcommittee on emerging threats and capabilities washington, dc march 29, 2006. International efforts to keep weapons of mass destruction out of the hands of nonstate actors must be continually strengthened through stepped. Federal register presidential documents national archives. Countries weapons programs, and their levels of cooperation with our nonproliferation efforts, will be among our most important criteria in judging the nature of our bilateral relations. With the weapons of mass destruction control act p. Accordingly, the secretary of state shall cooperate in and lead multilateral efforts to stop the proliferation of weapons of mass.
The german army initiated modern chemical warfare by launching a chlorine attack at ypres, belgium, on april 22, 1915, killing 5,000 french and algerian troops and momentarily. Efforts to address proliferation in the persian gulf therefore will need to take into consideration a broad array of issues. It is a very far reaching control which would eliminate the rivalry between nations in this field, which would prevent. Theses studies, reports, and analyses were conducted by governmental agencies, and private organizations under contract with the federal government. The persian gulf presents a difficult challenge for global efforts to control weapons of mass destruction wmd. Emphasizing international appeals to control weapons of. Progress in reducing the spread and use of weapons of mass destruction is never linear. While active in efforts to prevent other countries from obtaining nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction, these nuclear powers have all shied away from the push to pass the treaty at the u. Countering wmd terrorism to reduce the risk that terrorists are able to. Xi chairs leadership meeting on regular epidemic control. Mcdonnell, shown testifying on capitol hill in 2017, has overseen cuts in multiple programs aimed at detecting and preventing terrorism involving weapons of mass destruction as. That threat is gone, but in its place remain troubling uncertainties and clear threats, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Chemical weapons and the efforts to control and destroy them.
Weapons of mass destruction international relations. Efforts to stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction. This manual provides tactical level commanders, staff, and key agencies with a primary reference for planning, synchronizing. Although its nuclear and missile programs are frequently in the headlines, north koreas other weapons of mass destruction wmd programs and their role in pyongyangs security strategies draw less discussion and analysis.
A weapon of mass destruction wmd is a nuclear, radiological, chemical, biological, or any other weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to a large number of humans or cause great damage to humanmade structures e. The success of the chemical weapons convention regime sets a good example for efforts toward the elimination of other wmd. Weapons of mass destruction international peace institute. Socom will soon lead the pentagons antiwmd efforts. A weapon of mass destruction wmd is a nuclear, radiological, chemical, biological, or any. Weapons of mass destruction proliferation center for. The proliferation of these weapons is likely to be harder to prevent and thus potentially more prevalent. During the cold war, technology efforts in these fields were focused against a soviet threat. Modern weapons of mass destruction are either nuclear, biological. The proliferation of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.
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