{"id":12019,"date":"2014-01-31T12:15:27","date_gmt":"2014-01-31T01:15:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/?p=12019"},"modified":"2014-02-03T08:50:02","modified_gmt":"2014-02-02T21:50:02","slug":"australias-nuclear-security-leadership-far-exceeds-middle-power-pretensions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/australias-nuclear-security-leadership-far-exceeds-middle-power-pretensions\/","title":{"rendered":"Australia\u2019s nuclear security leadership far exceeds middle-power pretensions"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"2012<\/a><\/p>\n

There\u2019s been a long-running debate on The Strategist<\/i> about whether Australia should be content with middle-power status<\/a>. It\u2019s a term that many Australians think downplays their country\u2019s strategic importance, especially its growing centrality to the security and stability of the dynamic Asia-Pacific region. This debate might appear self-absorbed and parochial to many outside Australia, but it has important implications for international security cooperation.<\/p>\n

In several key areas, Canberra has demonstrated a level of international leadership that has far exceeded any middle-power pretensions. Nuclear security is one of these. Over the years, Australian nuclear security experts have honed their expertise and transformed Australia into a world leader in nuclear security practices<\/a>, both in securing materials and facilities at home and in helping build nuclear security capacity abroad. They’ve learned key lessons<\/a> along the way, including how to successfully transfer critical skills to neighbouring states, how to help national and international organisations develop and improve nuclear security mechanisms and guidance, and how to build international consensus around the need to take nuclear and radiological terrorism risks seriously.<\/p>\n

Australia\u2019s efforts have boosted Australia\u2019s national security, that of its near neighbours, and the rest of the world. Despite this, the country\u2019s nuclear security legacy isn’t valued as highly as it should be in Australia\u2019s decision-making circles. A lack of publicity surrounding Australia\u2019s nuclear and radiological security work means that most Australians, including many in the political and strategic realms, don\u2019t fully appreciate the nature of global nuclear and radiological threats or the extent to which Australia\u2019s expertise and outreach efforts are respected and relied upon around the world (as are Australia\u2019s efforts in non-proliferation and disarmament). This helps explain why one of Australia\u2019s flagship projects, known as the Regional Security of Radiological Sources (RSRS) Project, was recently cancelled<\/a>. There\u2019s a disconnect between Australia\u2019s nuclear security champions, who operate both in the official and non-governmental sphere, and Canberra\u2019s political elite.<\/p>\n

The new Abbott government can address this problem by launching a nuclear security strategy<\/a> that would require a modest financial output (about $2 million per year) and yet reap significant national, regional and international rewards. Such a strategy would consist of:<\/p>\n