The Nunn-Lugar program: No time to pull the plug
In August 1991, the failed coup by Moscow hardliners sparked concerns that the imminent breakup of the Soviet Union could result in nuclear weapons, materials or expertise falling into the wrong hands. Three months later, Senators Sam Nunn (D-GA) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) sponsored the Soviet Nuclear Threat Reduction Act, which was designed to address the immediate need to accelerate the implementation of existing arms control agreements, consolidate former Soviet nuclear weapons like Russia and to help ensure their physical security and safety. Dubbed the {open_quotes}Nunn-Lugar program,{close_quotes} the legislation gave the Defense Department the authority to transfer up to $$400 million to facilitate {open_quotes}the transportation, storage, safeguarding and destruction of nuclear and other weapons in the Soviet Union...and to assist in the prevention of weapons proliferation.{close_quotes} In each of the following three years, Congress approved $$400 million for the program and expanded its scope. The {open_quotes}Co-operative Threat Reduction{close_quotes} (CTR) program now includes a number of projects related to defense conversion, military-to-military contacts, environmental restoration and housing for former Strategic Rocket Forces (SRF) personnel {open_quotes}in connection with the dismantlement of strategic nuclear weapons{close_quotes}.
- OSTI ID:
- 433537
- Journal Information:
- Arms Control Today, Vol. 25, Issue 5; Other Information: PBD: Jun 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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