Vision and Steps for a World Free of Nuclear Weapons

In their groundbreaking series of Wall Street Journal op-eds, the four Nuclear Security Project principals laid out their vision for a world without nuclear weapons and outlined urgent and immediate practical steps to reduce nuclear dangers.

“Reassertion of the vision of a world free of nuclear weapons and the practical measures toward achieving that goal would be, and would be perceived to be, a bold initiative consistent with America’s moral heritage,” they wrote. “The effort could have a profoundly positive impact on the security of future generations. Without the bold vision, the actions will not be perceived as fair or urgent. Without the actions, the vision will not be perceived as realistic or possible.”

Former Secretary of State George P. Shultz, former Secretary of Defense William J. Perry, former Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger and former Senator Sam Nunn endorsed a set of ten steps:

• Work with leaders of countries with nuclear weapons to turn the goal of a world without nuclear weapons into a joint enterprise.
• Discard Cold War posture of deployed nuclear weapons for U.S. and Russian forces to reduce the danger of accidental, mistaken or unauthorized launch.
• Substantially reduce nuclear forces in all countries that possess them.
• Eliminate short-range battlefield nuclear weapons designed to be forward deployed.
• Adopt a process to bring the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty into effect.
• Secure all nuclear weapons and materials globally to the highest possible standards.
• Develop a new international system to manage the risks associated with producing fuel for nuclear power.
• Halt the production globally of plutonium and highly enriched uranium for weapons purposes; phase out the use of HEU in civil commerce and remove weapons-usable uranium from research facilities around the world and render it safe.
• Redouble efforts to resolve regional conflicts that give rise to new nuclear powers.
• Strengthen verification and enforcement capabilities.