Nuclear Security Summit history

Dozens of world leaders have arrived or are on their way to Washington for the Nuclear Security Summit March 31-April 1, which focuses on preventing terrorists from obtaining nuclear weapons.

The summit is the fourth and last of a series of that began in 2010, that has brought together nearly 50 heads of state, the largest gathering of world leaders since the founding of the United Nations.

Leaders will discuss securing nuclear materials and preventing nuclear smuggling and look for future ways to continue the dialogue as the series comes to a close.

At the conclusion of every past summit, leaders have issued a Communique outlining commitments to advance plans to increase nuclear security including, according to the Summit website:

• Minimizing the use of highly enriched uranium (HEU)
• Bolstering security at nuclear facilities through enhanced national regulations and implementation of best practices
• Enhanced membership in international instruments and organizations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency
• Instituting measures to detect and prevent illicit trafficking in nuclear and other radioactive materials
• Centers of Excellence, build capacity, develop technology and coordinate assistance on nuclear Security

Many participating countries have also voluntarily pledged to increase domestic nuclear security and to work through other mechanisms to improve security globally, the Summit said. Tangible nuclear security achievements include:

• Removal and/or disposition of over 3.2 metric tons of vulnerable HEU and plutonium material
• Completely removing HEU from 12 countries – Austria, Chile, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Libya, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Romania, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine, and Vietnam
• Verified shutdown or successful conversion to low enriched uranium (LEU) fuel use of 24 HEU research reactors and isotope production facilities in 15 countries, including Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, the Czech Republic, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States
• Completion of physical security upgrades at 32 buildings storing weapons-usable fissile materials
• Installation of radiation detection equipment at 328 international border crossings, airports, and seaports to combat illicit trafficking in nuclear materials

Story compiled by CCTV America, the Associated Press and the Nuclear Security Summit.

PAST COMMUNIQUES:

The Hague Communique, 2014

The Seoul Communique, 2012

The Washington Communique, 2010

The Washington Workplan, 2010