The U.S. and Russia Will Step Up Nuke Detection at Russian Borders
Deal aims to implement new technology ahead of schedule.
June 1, 2007— -- The United States has announced a deal with Russia to accelerate plans to prevent the smuggling of nuclear material across the former Cold War rival's borders, where it could be obtained by a rogue nation or terrorist group.
For the first time, the new agreement sets a timetable to complete the installation of radiation monitoring at the remainder of Russia's 350 border crossings by the end of 2011, six years ahead of schedule.
The U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration announced that it would work together with Russia's Federal Customs Service to install radiation monitoring equipment and train inspectors at all of Russia's land and rail crossings, sea ports, and international airports.
"As our counterproliferation and anti-terrorism partnership with Russia grows stronger, the security provided for through this agreement will not only make Russia safer, but it will also increase the security of the United States and our allies in the region," NNSA's Acting Administrator Bill Ostendorff said in a statement.
Such cooperation between the United States and Russia has been ongoing since 1998 and has already equipped more than 170 of Russia's border crossings. Both countries will share the cost, with the total U.S. contribution since the Russian-operated program began expected to reach $140 million, however Russia will maintain operations in the future.
"This is a part of our overall strategy to detect, secure and dispose of dangerous nuclear material," NNSA's Nonproliferation head Will Tobey told ABC News.
"We think it will significantly advance our ability to detect and prevent transfers" of nuclear material," he added.
The Nuclear Threat Initiative, an organization co-founded by former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn who had pushed to prevent nuclear material trafficking while in Congress, has pushed for more thorough monitoring of Russia's borders. Today it applauded the deal.
"This is an important development in U.S. and Russian efforts to reduce the risk of dangerous materials being smuggled in or out of Russia," NTI's president Charles Curtis said in a statement.
