U.S.-German Cooperation in Elimination of Excess Weapons Plutonium (1995)

Summary: In the process of nuclear arms reduction, the US and Russia are left with an excess of uranium and plutonium weapons materials. This excess material in Russia especially poses great risks to international security. The material might be reused in nuclear weapons, or it might be illegally diverted and end up in the hands of proliferating states or even sub-national terrorist groups. Minimizing these dangers is in the clear interest of Russia’s Western partners. This report seeks to identify possible German contributions, in cooperation with the US, to help accelerate the management and disposition process and to enhance its security. The US National Academy of Sciences carried out an extensive study of the management and disposition of excess weapons plutonium, and the finding serve as the technical basis for this report.