The Hill

Nuclear Weapons Summit

Julia Newman

On April 12, 2010 President Barack Obama played host to a two-day Summit on nuclear weapons. This summit focuses on how to monitor and stop the spread of nuclear weapons. The summit is composed of 46 countries and includes discussions between the four member countries of the United Nations Security Council. From the start of its term, The Obama Administration has been pushing for tougher nuclear weapon sanctions (on Iran in particular) and to stop nuclear weapon proliferation. The Obama administration has been concerned that older weapons and materials, especially in Russia, are not being safeguarded as well as they should be. This summit comes a week after President Obama signed a treaty with Russia saying that both the US and Russia would reduce their nuclear stockpiles.

• Sanctions: Penalties and other forms of enforcement
• Proliferation: The spread of
• Safeguard: Taking precautions with

• Arguments for: President Obama is holding a summit to raise support from other countries in order to come up with a comprehensive plan in regards to nuclear proliferation.
• Arguments against: This summit has angered the Iranian government, which recently called the Obama administration “wicked.” Some fear a violent reaction.

Additional Reading:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/04/11/nuclear.security.summit/index.html

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/04/11/obama-takes-step-goal-nuke-free-world-summit/