Implementation of International Nuclear Safeguards

Substantial improvements are required if the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is to fulfill its increasing safeguards responsibilities. The number of facilities and the amount of nuclear material under safeguards has increased rapidly in recent years. Many of the nuclear facilities now subject to safeguards are larger and more complex than those originally under safeguards. To meet its responsibilities, IAEA needs more technical, political, and financial support from its members. The extent to which present safeguards are effective is largely a matter of judgment. It would be difficult to prove if or to what degree safeguards have achieved their desired effect. Nevertheless, it is clear that the credibility of international safeguards as a deterrent to proliferation depends upon the probability of prompt detection. In many cases, this probability of detection needs to be increased. Several factors hinder IAEA in applying safeguards including: (1) a limited number of inspectors, (2) a lack of suitable techniques and equipment, (3) inadequate nuclear material accounting practices by some nations, and (4) political constraints. Moreover, IAEA is experiencing financial constraints in performing its increasing safeguards' responsibilities. It seems reasonable to conclude that the IAEA safeguards effectiveness has been adversely influenced by these problems. The United States and others have been working to strengthen IAEA safeguards. GAO found that intensified U.S. efforts to upgrade IAEA safeguards have had some positive results, but they have not yet had as significant an impact as had been hoped and that IAEA safeguards need further improvement. There appears to be no need to revise the U.S. legislation. However, the United States must get more member nations to recognize the serious limitations impeding the effective application of IAEA safeguards and to join together in resolving these problems.