Action 44

France signed an agreement with IAEA in 2011 to identify sources exported by French companies and secure those sources in the countries where they are now located or, where that is impossible, to bring them back to France for processing. At the Nuclear Security Summit held in Washington, D.C. in 2016, the President of the Republic proposed an initiative to strengthen the security of high activity sealed radioactive sources. France held side events on this subject during the International Conference on the Security of Radioactive Material, held in Vienna in December 2018. Alongside Germany and the United States of America, France co-chairs an annual technical meeting to identify and promote initiatives on alternative technologies to high-activity radioactive sources.

In 1999, the National Nuclear Security Administration established the Nuclear Smuggling Detection and Deterrence program––its flagship program to detect, deter, and disrupt illicit trafficking in nuclear materials. Prior to the current Review Cycle, the program had deployed nearly international 800 radiation detection systems; transitioned responsibility for the long-term operation and maintenance of more than 620 systems deployed to international partners; and engaged with 15 international partners to increase global nuclear forensics capabilities.

The United States also co-founded the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism in 2006––a voluntary partnership of 89 nations and six international organizations that are committed to strengthening global capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to nuclear terrorism. The United States served as co-chair of the GICNT alongside Russia.