The United States hopes next week’s Nuclear Security Summit here will endorse President Barack Obama’s approach to prevent nuclear terrorism given a “very strong international consensus” on the issue.
“I think there’s likely to be a very strong international consensus to prevent nuclear terrorism and to make sure that physical security measures throughout the world are very strong,” James N Miller, Principal Deputy Secretary of Defence for Policy, told reporters Wednesday.
President Obama has set the goal of securing all potentially vulnerable nuclear materials for four years, and we’re hoping that this summit meeting will endorse that approach,” he said.
The consensus view is expected to be reflected in the “outcome statement” to be issued at at the end of the April 12-13 summit, which would bring together world leaders from 47 nations, including Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The purpose will be to raise international consciousness about the threat of nuclear terrorism, and to encourage all countries to accept responsibility for taking practical steps to reduce the likelihood that terrorists will get their hands on nuclear materials and be able to build a bomb.