Office of Multilateral Nuclear and Security Affairs (ISN/MNSA)

MISSION STATEMENT

This office was formed by the merger of the former AC/ISN and NP/MNA offices. Its role is to formulate and direct U.S. policy relating to multilateral nuclear issues and strategic affairs, with a particular focus upon multilateral negotiations, in support of the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, the Assistant Secretary for International Security and Nonproliferation, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Nonproliferation Policy and Negotiations, the Special Representative of the President for the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and other senior policymakers.

This office has the lead role on a variety of multilateral arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament issues. These include, but are not limited to: the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT); safeguards, nuclear security, and technical cooperation programs under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna; U.S. bilateral safeguards and sister laboratory arrangements; fissile material cutoff; persistent landmines; nuclear testing; outer space arms control (PAROS) negotiations; nuclear-weapon-free-zone treaties and protocols; security assurances; G8 and EU (CONOP and CODUN) nonproliferation and disarmament dialogues; the UN Register of Conventional Arms; multilateral negotiations related to conventional weapons (e.g., at the U.N. or CD). As the lead office for multilateral negotiations on such matters, this office will coordinate closely with other ISN or T bureau offices having substantive expertise in these areas (e.g., ISN/CATR, ISN/RA, and relevant office[s] in the PM Bureau with respect to conventional arms). This office will also coordinate closely with ISN/RA with regard to RA’s lead role in NATO and OSCE nonproliferation and disarmament consultations.

This office coordinates U.S. policy toward the IAEA, the Conference on Disarmament (CD) in Geneva, the First (Disarmament and International Security) Committee (UNFC) of the United Nations General Assembly, the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO PrepCom) in Vienna, and the United Nations Disarmament Commission (UNDC) in New York. MNSA also coordinates U.S. preparations for, and participation in, the NPT review process.

In formulating and directing U.S. policies in the areas and organizations described above, MNSA will work and coordinate closely with White House offices and other U.S. agencies, including: the Departments of Commerce, Defense, and Energy; the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; the Environmental Protection Agency; the Intelligence Community; and U.S. diplomatic missions in New York (USUN), Geneva (USDEL/CD) and Vienna (UNVIE). MNSA also advances Administration policies before the Congress, the American public, and foreign audiences in coordination with the ISN office of SPO and the Bureaus of International Information Programs, Legislative Affairs, and Public Affairs.

Officers serve on U.S. delegations to meetings of the IAEA’s Board of Governors and General Conference, the CD, the NPT review process, the UNFC, the CTBTO PrepCom and its Working Groups A and B, the UNDC, the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, nonproliferation and disarmament experts at NATO and the EU, and various UN Groups of Governmental Experts. The office also conducts diplomatic exchanges with foreign governments, the United Nations, and other international organizations. The office: 1) provides day-to-day policy guidance to U.S. missions to international organizations on multilateral nuclear and strategic issues; and 2) coordinates closely with other T Bureau offices, and especially with ISN/SPO, to develop long-term diplomatic strategies for promoting and protecting U.S. national security interests in MNSA’s areas of responsibility.

Key missions of the office include:

Nuclear Nonproliferation: Officers take the lead in developing, coordinating, and implementing U.S. policies and activities relating to the CD, the CTBTO PrepCom, the IAEA, and the NPT. Core activities include: 1) strengthening the NPT and compliance with the Treaty, and managing U.S. involvement in the NPT review process; 2) managing IAEA issues, including safeguards, the Additional Protocol, nuclear security and technical cooperation activities, and preparation of U.S. voluntary contributions and allocations to the IAEA; 3) promoting U.S. policy on a Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty (FMCT) and on fissile material moratoria; 4) coordinating U.S. policy and activities related to the International Monitoring System (IMS) and to activities of the CTBTO PrepCom pertaining to the IMS; and 5) implementing U.S. policy on nuclear-weapon-free zones and security assurances.

Strategic Negotiations: Officers take the lead in developing, coordinating, and implementing U.S. policies and activities at the CD, the UNFC, the UNDC, and other international venues where relevant issues are debated. Such activities include: 1) securing the negotiation by the CD of a worldwide ban on the sale or export of persistent landmines; 2) promoting U.S. national security objectives within UN disarmament bodies; 3) pursuing reforms of the UN’s disarmament machinery; and 4) leading the negotiation of any multinational treaties or agreements pursued by the USG in MNSA’s areas of responsibility.

Director: Amb. Marguerita Ragsdale