Jordan, US discuss counter nuclear smuggling cooperation

Representatives of the United States and Jordan, July 20, discussed perspectives on the threat of nuclear and radiological smuggling and to review their governments’ cooperation to counter that threat.

A statement by the US embassy in Amman said that Ambassador Makram Queisi led the Jordanian delegation while Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Nonproliferation Programs Phillip Dolliff led the U.S. delegation.

Discussions during the meeting, tackled ongoing bilateral cooperation under a January 2016 Joint Action Plan that identifies steps for the governments to work together to prevent, detect, and respond to smuggling incidents involving nuclear and other radioactive materials.

Since signing the “Joint Action Plan,” both sides have exchanged best practices, consulted one another on their respective organizational structures that govern nuclear security, and collaborated to equip and train Jordan’s Counter Nuclear Smuggling Team, the statement added.

During the meeting, the statement said, both countries identified specific next steps in their cooperation.
Jordan is a leader on global efforts to counter nuclear smuggling. In 2016, the Kingdom has coordinated an international Statement of Activity and Cooperation to Counter Nuclear Smuggling, which it submitted to the International Atomic Energy Agency in 2017 along with 38 other signatories.

Jordan has hosted international events on counter nuclear smuggling to promote cooperation with other countries and is also an active member of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, a voluntary multinational partnership committed to preventing, detecting, and responding to nuclear terrorism, the statement added.

Source: Fana News