History of American Policies, Part IV: Nunn-Lugar

A separate effort, the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) Program was begun by Congress in 1992 with four objectives:

(1) the destruction of former Soviet WMDs,
(2) the transportation, storage and safeguarding of WMDs in conjunction with their destruction,
(3) the establishment of proliferation safeguards and
(4) the prevention of scientific expertise proliferation.

These goals were a positive development, in that they recognize some of the broader proliferation difficulties, including the proliferation of knowledge and the ongoing danger that exists during the destruction process.

The program provides funding and technical assistance to former Soviet states to help them accomplish the aforementioned objectives; however, the Nunn-Lugar legislation provides six criteria for Russia to receive aid. It must

(1) invest in the dismantling of WMDs,
(2) forgo military modernization or WMD replacement,
(3) forgo reusing nuclear material,
(4) facilitate US verification of WMD destruction,
(5) comply with arms control agreements, and
(6) observe human rights.

Russia is currently failing on all six counts. However, the president may waive these criteria, if he considers it in the “national interest.” (See J. Michael Waller, “Foreign Aid Advisory,” American Foreign Policy Council, May 19, 1995.)