Working Toward a World Without Nuclear Weapons

In 2007, a who’s who of the national security establishment— former Secretary of State George Shultz, former Secretary of Defense Bill Perry, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and former Senator Sam Nunn —announced their support of a world without nuclear weapons, describing a new world of ever-expanding nuclear appetites, in which traditional deterrence no longer works. The four leaders created the Nuclear Security Project to galvanize global action to reduce urgent nuclear dangers and build support for their vision and the steps to achieve them.
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About the Four

Documentary Tackles Nuclear Dangers, Features Shultz, Perry, Kissinger, and Nunn

Nuclear Tipping Point is a new documentary film that focuses on conversations with four men intimately involved in American diplomacy and national security over the last four decades. Former Secretary of State George Shultz, former Secretary of Defense Bill Perry, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and former Senator Sam Nunn share the personal experiences that led them to write four Wall Street Journal op-eds in support of a world free of nuclear weapons and the steps needed to get there.

Spurring Global Action

When former Secretary of State George Shultz, former Secretary of Defense Bill Perry, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and former Senator Sam Nunn announced in 2007 their support of a world without nuclear weapons and described the steps to get there, the impact was global. Government leaders worldwide expressed support. But one of the most intriguing responses to the op-ed series was a wave of like-minded opinion editorials from high-level, former officials around the world. By 2011, former officials from 13 countries had joined together across party lines to publicly endorse the vision and agenda by speaking out on the pages of the press.

Creating a Blueprint for Action

Important and difficult challenges need to be addressed, in order to forge a path to a world without nuclear weapons. The Nuclear Security Project is working to fill the gaps in understanding and develop the blueprint for action needed by government leaders to guide future policymaking and diplomacy to reduce nuclear dangers. Important work has been done over the years to define major mileposts on the path to a world without nuclear weapons, but there are still a number of key gaps in the conceptual framework and technical details. Studies sponsored by the Project address issues like verification, cooperation between the United States and Russia, NATO nuclear posture and more.

Highlights

ELN Presents Euro-Atlantic Perspectives on NATO's Upcoming Chicago Summit

The European Leadership Network, an NSP partner, is sponsoring a NATO Summit Forum, featuring a range of personal views from across the Euro-Atlantic sphere from former ministers, current and serving officials, as well as leading thinkers in the run-up to the NATO Chicago Summit, focusing on what a successful summit outcome may look like.

Award-Winning London Theatre Screens Nuclear Tipping Point

In London, Nuclear Tipping Point will be shown on March 23 as part of a three-month series on nuclear issues at the award-winning Tricycle Theatre. “The Tricycle Goes Nuclear” includes plays, a film festival, a concert, a lecture, discussion groups and more. As part of the series, NTI board member, Baroness Shirley Williams will participate in a panel discussion with other members of the Top Level Group, an NTI partner, on The Trident Debate on March 26.

Nuclear Chessboard: 2012

The Commonwealth Club of California hosted former Secretary of State George Shultz, former Defense Secretary William Perry and Senator Nunn for a discussion of international security, nuclear threats, Iran’s drive to build a bomb, the North Korean nuclear weapons program and future prospects for limiting the spread of nuclear materials and eventually eliminating nuclear weapons.

Asia Pacific Leadership Network Inaugural Statement

Over 30 political, diplomatic, and military leaders from 14 Asia Pacific states signed on to the Asia Pacific Leadership Network for Non-Proliferation and Disarmament’s inaugural statement in support of a nuclear weapons-free world. The statement acknowledges the crucial role of policymakers in the Asia Pacific region in achieving the vision of a world without nuclear weapons. The statement’s signatories, including five former prime ministers and 10 former foreign and defense ministers, warn against stalled momentum and call for policymakers to “get serious” about nuclear risks.

Small Nuclear Forces: Five Perspectives

The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a Nuclear Security Project partner, released a new report, "Small Nuclear Forces: Five Perspectives," which focuses on nuclear restraint and stability at low numbers. Authors from the United Kingdom, China, France, India, and Pakistan examine factors that have led these countries to maintain a posture of minimum deterrence. They also explore prospects for future multilateral arms reduction, an essential step proposed by NSP principals George Shultz, William Perry, Henry Kissinger, and Sam Nunn in their January 2007 Wall Street Journal op-ed.

More Highlights

About the Nuclear Security Project

Former Secretary of State George P. Shultz, former Secretary of Defense William J. Perry, former Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger and former Senator Sam Nunn joined together to form the Nuclear Security Project—an effort to galvanize global action to reduce urgent nuclear dangers and build support for reducing reliance on nuclear weapons, ultimately ending them as a threat to the world. In four op-eds, published in The Wall Street Journal and linked at right, they describe their vision of a world without nuclear weapons and the steps to get there.

The Nuclear Threat Initiative works with Stanford University’s Hoover Institution to coordinate the work of the principals and manage the project.