Cooperative Security, Arms Control and Disarmament
Verifying the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons and Providing Assurance against Breakout
Policy Brief No.1 - February, 2018 • By John Carlson
Effective verification will be absolutely essential to achieving nuclear disarmament. Developing effective verification may seem an impossible challenge, but there is substantial experience to build on, including IAEA safeguards and bilateral arms control processes. Examining the specific steps required to progress disarmament, we are not starting with a blank sheet, many verification missions are similar to those existing or under development today. International collaboration in developing new verification applications will contribute to the confidence and trust required to achieve the elimination of nuclear weapons.