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

Paper
Nuclear Weapons and the Future of American Power
- James M. Acton, Ankit Panda
Commentary
The Latest Iran Deal Ignores the Lessons of the Past
- 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

Paper
Untangling the Nuclear Knot: A Constructive Agenda for Managing China’s Nuclear Relations with the United States and Its Allies
The nuclear relationship between China and the United States is increasingly shaped by widening perception gaps rather than deliberate strategic design.
Tong Zhao
Research
In Pursuit of Nuclear-Powered Submarines: Australia, South Korea, And Japan
A look at why states without nuclear weapons are seeking naval nuclear propulsion, whether they can legally and technically deliver it, what it will cost them, and what responsible stewardship of the capability would look like.
Jamie Kwong
Commentary
Emissary
Is the U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Deal Moving From the Gold Standard to a Gilded Standard?
Congress should ask tough questions about the agreement’s more unique features and whether they advance U.S. interests or compromise them.
Jane Darby Menton
Commentary
Emissary
A Nuclear Odyssey at Sea
Nuclear and maritime communities face a long and challenging journey to deploy commercial nuclear applications at sea.
Jamie Kwong, Toby Dalton
Research
Coercive Nuclear Threats Under Domestic Dissonance
A look at how public opinion influences the credibility of coercive nuclear threats,and how it enables and constrains strategies of nuclear coercion.
Lauren Sukin, Samuel Seitz

More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

The nuclear missile formation passes through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade on September 3, 2025 in Beijing, China.

Paper

Untangling the Nuclear Knot: A Constructive Agenda for Managing China’s Nuclear Relations with the United States and Its Allies

The nuclear relationship between China and the United States is increasingly shaped by widening perception gaps rather than deliberate strategic design.

Tong Zhao

Research

In Pursuit of Nuclear-Powered Submarines: Australia, South Korea, And Japan

A look at why states without nuclear weapons are seeking naval nuclear propulsion, whether they can legally and technically deliver it, what it will cost them, and what responsible stewardship of the capability would look like.

Jamie Kwong

Commentary

Emissary

Is the U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Deal Moving From the Gold Standard to a Gilded Standard?

Congress should ask tough questions about the agreement’s more unique features and whether they advance U.S. interests or compromise them.

Jane Darby Menton

Black-and-white photo of the nuclear cargo ship NS Savannah.

Commentary

Emissary

A Nuclear Odyssey at Sea

Nuclear and maritime communities face a long and challenging journey to deploy commercial nuclear applications at sea.

Jamie Kwong, Toby Dalton

Research

Coercive Nuclear Threats Under Domestic Dissonance

A look at how public opinion influences the credibility of coercive nuclear threats,and how it enables and constrains strategies of nuclear coercion.

Lauren Sukin, Samuel Seitz