The G-8 Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction

The Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction, launched by G-8 Leaders at the June 2002 Kananaskis Summit, has the goal of preventing terrorists or states that support them from acquiring or developing weapons of mass destruction. The Global Partnership is intended to address nonproliferation, disarmament, counterterrorism, and nuclear safety issues, especially in the other former Soviet states, although the agreed initial focus of the Global Partnership was identified as cooperative projects with Russia. To support Global Partnership projects, the G-8 Leaders committed to raising up to $20 billion over 10 years. In response to the United States' pledge to contribute half of the $20-billion target, the other G-8 countries and the European Union (EU) have thus far pledged about $6.5 billion. Russia will contribute $2 billion.

As a reflection of the global nature of issues related to nonproliferation, the G-8 initiated outreach to other countries to provide their support to the Partnership. Thirteen additional countries have joined the G-8 countries and the European Union, having agreed to commit to the Kananaskis non-proliferation principles and guidelines. Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Switzerland, and Sweden joined in 2003; Australia, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Ireland, the Republic of Korea, and New Zealand joined in 2004. All together they will contribute more than $210 million to Global Partnership projects. The G-8 is working to extend formal recognition to former Soviet states as Global Partnership recipients.

During the first two years of the Global Partnership, members have undertaken, or expanded upon cooperation projects with Russia in key areas, including:

• Destroying chemical weapons;
• Dismantling decommissioned nuclear submarines;
• Securing and disposing of fissile materials; and
• Redirecting employment of former weapons scientists to peaceful civilian endeavors.

A number of Global Partnership donors are also supporting nonproliferation activities in other former Soviet states.

U.S. Global Partnership funding for projects in the states of the former Soviet Union are averaging $1 billion annually and involve the full range of U.S. nonproliferation and threat-reduction cooperative activities, such as:

• Destroying strategic delivery vehicles and chemical weapons;
• Disposing of and reducing the risk of theft or loss of nuclear weapons-usable and radioactive materials;
• Securing pathogens; and
• Developing alternative employment programs for former weapons scientists.

Annual reports, released at the G-8 Summits, provide information about Partnership goals and objectives as well as review progress in activities and projects. The 2004 Annual Report includes the G8 Consolidated Report of Global Partnership Projects as an annex that provides a concise overview of the projects to which member countries have committed.