Asia & the Pacific

The United States and India have a strong and shared interest in preventing extremist groups from using Afghanistan as a base from which to launch terror attacks. If our two countries work together to foster stability in Afghanistan without provoking a counterproductive Pakistani response, we can further our Strategic Partnership and advance peace and security in South Asia.

Graham Allison creates a report card on global efforts/non-efforts on preventing nuclear terrorism.

The gravest threat facing Americans today is a terrorist detonating a nuclear bomb in one of our cities. The National Security Advisory Group (NSAG) judges that the Bush administration is taking insufficient actions to counter this threat.

The September 11 large-scale terrorist attack shows the threat of nuclear terrorism is real. Recent seizures of stolen weapons-usable fissile materials (HEU and plutonium) make clear that establishing modern, well-designed nuclear material protection, control, and accounting (MPC&A) systems to secure nuclear material everywhere is critical to prevent against nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism. This work will assess the current status of China’s MPC&A system, analyze existing regulations and administrative systems, and recommend steps for improvement, including international cooperation.

A paper by the National Security Advisory Group

This workshop report describes the policies and programs that will give content to the security dimension of engagement and increase the probability that China will emerge as a security partner, rather than an adversary, of the United States in the 21st century.

The public reconciliation of Presidents Bush and Putin in St. Petersburg and
at the G-8 Summit in Evian has fostered the impression that all is well in the
U.S.-Russian relationship. This is a dangerous misimpression. The U.S.-
Russian dispute over Iraq exposed conflicts in the U.S.-Russian relationship
and even cracks in its foundation that must be addressed to advance vital
American interests.

Is the international community paying enough attention to Iran's WMD programs?

MTA Research Associate Matthew Bunn presented at the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management on building a genuine partnership between the United States and Russia to improve nuclear security.