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Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (ISN/CTR)

Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation
September 30, 2008

MISSION STATEMENT

This office was formed from the former NP Office of Proliferation Threat Reduction (NP/PTR), with an expanded mission reflecting the global scope of cooperative threat reduction. The Global Threat Reduction (GTR) programs, funded by the Nonproliferation, Anti-terrorism, De-mining and Related Programs (NADR) Account, are aimed at reducing the threat posed by terrorist organizations or states of concern seeking to acquire weapons of mass destruction (WMD) expertise, materials and equipment. In addition to continued efforts in the former Soviet Union, Iraq and Libya to redirect former WMD experts to peaceful, civilian employment, the GTR programs are working to reduce the rapidly growing worldwide WMD threat posed by terrorists, non-state actors, and proliferant states.

GTR programs fill critical gaps in the Global War on Terrorism, including in frontline states such as Pakistan, Iraq, and Afghanistan, as well as critical states such as Indonesia, Philippines, and Libya, and in regions where the terrorist threat is on the rise, such as South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

ISN/CTR coordinates closely with all other ISN offices and with the regional bureaus of the Department of State and with White House offices and other agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Energy, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, Agriculture, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

ISN/CTR also leads U.S. participation in the G-8 Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction (G-8 Global Partnership) and facilitates coordination of other USG initiatives seeking increased contributions for nonproliferation assistance from other governments. ISN/CTR coordinates U.S. bilateral and multilateral activities related to the G-8 Global Partnership, working closely with other agencies, develops coordinated USG strategies for seeking nonproliferation assistance funding from other governments through the Global Partnership and other initiatives; develops strategies for expansion of the scope of the Global Partnership; and coordinates tracking of program data regarding USG and other government contributions for cooperative threat reduction activities.

ISN/CTR’s GTR programs include:

• Global Biosecurity Engagement: This component includes the Bio-security Engagement Program (BEP), which seeks to strengthen pathogen security, laboratory bio-safety, and scientist engagement worldwide to deny terrorist and other non-state actors access to potentially dangerous expertise and pathogens. Also included are continuing efforts to engage and redirect former Soviet biological weapons personnel to peaceful, sustainable civilian work through the Bio-Chem Redirect Program and activities through the Bio-Industry Initiative to reconfigure large-scale former Soviet biological weapons production facilities and engage former weapons personnel in projects to accelerate drug and vaccine development to combat highly infectious diseases.

• Chemical Security Engagement Program: This program promotes chemical safety and security in academic and industrial chemical sectors and implements scientific engagement capacity-building projects to deter terrorists from acquiring chemicals and chemical expertise to be used in a WMD attack.

• Nuclear Security Assistance Program is designed to increase nuclear security through: 1) Engaging nuclear scientists, engineers and technicians in joint research collaborations with U.S. counterparts; 2) Addressing technical problems associated with development of civilian nuclear power and with threats of proliferation; 3) Raising awareness and improving nuclear safety and security best practices; and 4) Providing opportunities for best practices training to nuclear professionals.

• The Science Centers Program supports two international science and technology centers – the International Science and Technology Center in Moscow (www.istc.ru) and the Science and Technology Center in Ukraine (www.stcu.int) to engage WMD experts in Russia and other former Soviet states, focusing on helping them transition to sustainable, peaceful employment.

• The Libya Scientist Engagement Program engages former Libyan WMD experts in cooperative projects that support both the transition of Libya’s former weapons scientists to peaceful civilian activities and the recognition of Libya’s decision to relinquish its WMD and missile programs.

• The Iraq Scientist Engagement Program engages former WMD experts into peaceful efforts that will promote Iraqi economic and scientific development and contribute to national reconstruction.

 

Director: Matthias Mitman