Fissile Materials and Disarmament

{
  "authors": [
    "James M. Acton"
  ],
  "type": "other",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
  ],
  "collections": [],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "ctw",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
  "programAffiliation": "NPP",
  "programs": [
    "Nuclear Policy"
  ],
  "projects": [],
  "regions": [],
  "topics": [
    "Nuclear Policy"
  ]
}

Other

Fissile Materials and Disarmament

Verifying nuclear disarmament poses an unprecedented technical challenge, given the lingering uncertainty over whether states have retained militarily significant stockpiles of fissile material.

By James M. Acton

Published on Mar 23, 2011

Source: Getting to Zero: The Path to Nuclear Disarmament

Verifying nuclear disarmament poses an unprecedented technical challenge. There can never be certainty that nuclear-armed states have not retained militarily significant stockpiles of fissile material, but there must be international confidence assuring compliance and enforcement mechanisms. In the short term, to help prevent these uncertainties from becoming a roadblock in the future, Acton advocates these steps: (a) collect and archive information about fissile material production; (b) place information about fissile material production and holdings in the public domain; (c) be more transparent about civilian nuclear materials; and (d) implement the proposed Fissile Material Control Initiative. On their part, non-nuclear-weapon states could be prepared to recognize these as meaningful steps towards disarmament. Furthermore, Acton addresses bolstering enforcement mechanisms to improve confidence.

Click here for further information on ordering copies of this book.

About the Author

James M. Acton

Jessica T. Mathews Chair, Co-director, Nuclear Policy Program

Acton holds the Jessica T. Mathews Chair and is co-director of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Recent Work

Other
Unpacking Trump’s National Security Strategy
- +18
  James M. Acton, Saskia Brechenmacher, Cecily Brewer, …
Commentary
Trump Has an Out on Nuclear Testing. He Should Take It.
- James M. Acton

Nuclear Policy

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Article
Revisiting Japan’s Non-Nuclear Principles: Between a Nuclear Allergy and Umbrella
Japan’s prime minister, Takaichi Sanae, may kickstart a discussion on Japan’s non-nuclear principles.
Shizuka Kuramitsu
Commentary
Strategic Europe
Taking the Pulse: Is France’s New Nuclear Doctrine Ambitious Enough?
French President Emmanuel Macron has unveiled his country’s new nuclear doctrine. Are the changes he has made enough to reassure France’s European partners in the current geopolitical context?
Rym Momtaz, ed.
Commentary
Strategic Europe
Europe on Iran: Gone with the Wind
Europe’s reaction to the war in Iran has been disunited and meek, a far cry from its previously leading role in diplomacy with Tehran. To avoid being condemned to the sidelines while escalation continues, Brussels needs to stand up for international law.
Pierre Vimont
Research
The Unintended Consequences of German Deterrence
Germany's sometimes ambiguous nuclear policy advocates nuclear weapons for deterrence purposes but at the same time adheres to non-proliferation. This dichotomy can turn into a formidable dilemma and increase proliferation pressures in Berlin once no nuclear protector is around anymore, a scenario that has become more realistic in recent years.
Ulrich Kühn
Commentary
Strategic Europe
Macron Makes France a Great Middle Power
France has stopped clinging to notions of being a great power and is embracing the middle power moment. But Emmanuel Macron has his work cut out if he is to secure his country’s global standing before his term in office ends.
Rym Momtaz

More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delivers a speech during the graduation ceremony at the National Defense Academy of Japan on March 14, 2026 in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

Article

Revisiting Japan’s Non-Nuclear Principles: Between a Nuclear Allergy and Umbrella

Japan’s prime minister, Takaichi Sanae, may kickstart a discussion on Japan’s non-nuclear principles.

Shizuka Kuramitsu

Commentary

Strategic Europe

Taking the Pulse: Is France’s New Nuclear Doctrine Ambitious Enough?

French President Emmanuel Macron has unveiled his country’s new nuclear doctrine. Are the changes he has made enough to reassure France’s European partners in the current geopolitical context?

Rym Momtaz, ed.

Commentary

Strategic Europe

Europe on Iran: Gone with the Wind

Europe’s reaction to the war in Iran has been disunited and meek, a far cry from its previously leading role in diplomacy with Tehran. To avoid being condemned to the sidelines while escalation continues, Brussels needs to stand up for international law.

Pierre Vimont

Research

The Unintended Consequences of German Deterrence

Germany's sometimes ambiguous nuclear policy advocates nuclear weapons for deterrence purposes but at the same time adheres to non-proliferation. This dichotomy can turn into a formidable dilemma and increase proliferation pressures in Berlin once no nuclear protector is around anymore, a scenario that has become more realistic in recent years.

Ulrich Kühn

Commentary

Strategic Europe

Macron Makes France a Great Middle Power

France has stopped clinging to notions of being a great power and is embracing the middle power moment. But Emmanuel Macron has his work cut out if he is to secure his country’s global standing before his term in office ends.

Rym Momtaz