By Kerry Boyd
Global Security Newswire

U.S. Senator Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) introduced a new bill Monday to expand the Cooperative Threat Reduction program, which is currently focused on former Soviet states, to other countries with weapons of mass destruction (see GSN, March 18).

Lugar’s bill, called the Nunn-Lugar/CTR Expansion Act, would authorize the defense secretary to use up to $50 million of nonobligated CTR funds for nonproliferation projects in states other than those of the former Soviet Union.

The CTR program currently provides assistance to the former Soviet states to employ former weapons scientists, dismantle missiles and weapons of mass destruction and secure WMD materials and facilities.

Under the bill, the Defense Department could ask Congress for permission to use some CTR funds for other countries if there are concerns about the security and safety of WMD materials.  Congress would review requests and decide whether to approve projects.

In an emergency situation in which there is a high possibility that weapons of mass destruction could be diverted or stolen, the defense secretary could decide to launch “emergency operations,” Lugar said when introducing the legislation in a speech on the Senate floor.

The defense secretary would have to report to lawmakers within 72 hours of launching a mission.  Under the current program, the United States has responded to emergency situations in Kazakhstan and Georgia, Lugar said.

Lugar’s proposal would allow the Defense Department to provide only equipment, goods and services to other countries — not cash.  The program “is not foreign aid,” Lugar said, noting that more than 80 percent of CTR funds have been given to U.S. firms contracted to work in the former Soviet Union.

The bill is also designed to use funds from several projects rather than one particular area so that extending CTR to other countries does not significantly hinder individual programs in the former Soviet Union.

A provision in the bill provides for the possible expansion of the CTR program more directly to another country.  If the Defense Department provides CTR assistance to a country for two years in a row, the department and Congress could consider expanding the program more permanently to the country.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Richard Lugar is a board member of the Nuclear Threat Initiative, the sole sponsor of Global Security Newswire, which is published independently by National Journal Group.]

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