Assessing progress on nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament

The Arms Control Association (ACA) has released a new study by its research staff that measures the performance of 11 key states in 10 universally-recognized nonproliferation, disarmament and nuclear security categories over the past 18 months. The study gives grades to China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, India, Israel, Pakistan--each of which possess nuclear weapons--and North Korea--which maintains a nuclear weapons capability--as well as Iran and Syria, which are under investigation for possible nuclear weapons-related activity. "This report is an ambitious attempt to describe what constitutes the 'mainstream' of nonproliferation and disarmament behavior expected of responsible members of the international community, and to provide a straightforward, transparent measurement of the performance over the past 18 months of 11 key states in meeting 10 major, universally recognized nuclear disarmament, nonproliferation, and nuclear security standards. Although every state has some responsibility to uphold and support these standards, the record of those states possessing nuclear weapons--the United States, Russia, United Kingdom, France, China, India, Israel, Pakistan--nuclear weapons aspirants--North Korea--and those that are under investigation for possible nuclear weapons-related activities--Iran and Syria--is most critical to the health of the nuclear disarmament, nonproliferation, and nuclear security regime and to international peace and security, and is therefore the focus of this report.".