United States is the Chair of the Global Partnership in 2012
The United States is currently the Chair of the Global Partnership (GP) Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction. Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, the State Department Coordinator for Threat Reduction Programs, serves as the U.S. representative to the GP and will chair the Global Partnership throughout 2012.
As Chair, the United States will focus on the areas enunciated at the 2011 G8 Summit in Deauville specifically, nuclear and radiological security, bio-security, scientist engagement, and facilitation of implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540. Officials will discuss assistance needs and coordinating possible projects in these areas as well as expanding membership of the Partnership.
Message from Ambassador Jenkins
The Global Partnership
The Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction began at the 2002 Kananaskis G8 Summit as a 10-year, $20 billion initiative to prevent terrorists or states that support them from acquiring or developing weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Since then, the GP has grown to include 23 Partners and has allocated about $21 billion worldwide. At the 2011 G8 Summit in Deauville, Leaders agreed to extend the Partnership beyond 2012.
The Global Partnership addresses nonproliferation, disarmament, counterterrorism, and nuclear safety issues through cooperative projects in such areas as destruction of chemical weapons; the dismantlement of decommissioned nuclear submarines; the security and disposition of fissile materials; and rechanneling employment of former weapons scientists to peaceful civilian endeavors.
Achievements to date include:
Global Partnership Working Group Annual Report 2011 -- Consolidated Report Data
Global Partnership Working Group Annual Report 2009 -- Consolidated Report Data
GP Members’ Websites:
Canada, Germany, France, Japan, EU
U.S. Contributions
In 2002, the Global Partnership began as a 10-year, $20 billion initiative to prevent terrorists or states that support them from acquiring or developing weapons of mass destruction. The United States pledged $10 billion of that total. The U.S. Government participates in GP-related activities through programs at the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of State, and other related agencies, and includes work in securing and dismantling fissile materials and nuclear weapons, promoting WMD export controls, destroying chemical weapons, aiding in WMD scientist redirection, and industry engagement, among other things.
The United States plans to provide up to $10 billion in continued funding during the period of 2012-2022 for threat reduction efforts, subject to annual Congressional appropriations.
The Global Partnership and International Organizations
The Global Partnership recognizes the important role of international organizations in the struggle to prevent the spread and development of weapons and materials of mass destruction. The GP coordinates with a number of international organizations, including the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Biological Weapons Convention Implementation Support Unit, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, INTERPOL, United Nations 1540 Committee, the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, the Organization for Animal Health, the World Health Organization, and others.
