The Evolution of IAEA Safeguards: U.S. Perspectives

The concept of using “safeguards” to ensure the peaceful use of nuclea old as the nuclear era itself. A remarkable, and sometimes under-appreciate the international safeguards system has been its evolution over this period 60 years. Since the end of the Cold War and the discovery of clandestin programs in NPT non-nuclear weapon states, the nuclear proliferation is central focus of the international security dialogue. With this increased e preventing proliferation has come the need to significantly broaden the g enhance the technical capabilities of the international safeguards system. In response, the Agency and its Member States have been agents for change, modifying and adapting the system to meet new challenges while maintaining fundamental safeguards principles. This paper will provide U.S. perspectives on this evolution through major periods of safeguards history, outlining changing safeguards concepts and objectives, methods and technologies, and the U.S. role in their development and evolution. This history suggests that further evolution will likely be needed, but that, given a ongoing spirit of cooperation, the system will continue to meet the demands placed on it.