“The United States proposes to work with both nuclear weapon states and non-nuclear weapons states to better understand the technical problems of verifying nuclear disarmament, and to develop solutions. This new initiative will…create a non-traditional partnership that draws on the expertise of talented individuals around the world, in both the public and private sectors.”

– Under Secretary of State Rose Gottemoeller
Prague, Czech Republic, December 4, 2014

On December 4, 2014, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Rose Gottemoeller announced a new initiative to enhance security and stability in the effort to reduce and eliminate nuclear weapons – the International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verification (IPNDV).

The Partnership’s first meeting was held March 19-20 in Washington, D.C., with a broadly representative group of states participating.

The IPNDV brings together both nuclear and non-nuclear weapon states under a cooperative framework to further understand and find solutions to the complex challenges involved in the verification of nuclear disarmament.

The United States believes such engagement will strengthen existing work towards the goals of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

Nuclear Disarmament Verification and Technical Obstacles

Future steps in nuclear disarmament will pose significant verification challenges. Success in addressing these future challenges will require the development and application of new technologies or concepts. All countries have an interest in the success of these efforts. A larger, more diverse group of states with technical expertise in nuclear verification or the related sciences will contribute to the discussion and provide a broader intellectual basis for determining solutions.

The Partnership

The IPNDV will consider verification challenges across the nuclear weapons lifecycle – including material production and control, warhead production, deployment, storage, dismantlement, and disposition. It will build on lessons learned from efforts such as the United States –United Kingdom Technical Cooperation Program and the United Kingdom-Norway Initiative.

To take this Partnership forward, the U.S. government will work with the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) through an official public-private partnership. Drawing from its recently concluded project, Innovating Verification, NTI will bring its expertise and resources to bear to help guide the process of standing up the International Partnership and assist in the development and implementation of a program of work.

Source: The U.S. State Department