Global_Partnership_Against_the_Spread_of_Weapons_and_Materials_of_Mass_Destruction
Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction
International security initiative
The G7-led Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction (Global Partnership) is an international security initiative announced at the 2002 G8 summit in Kananaskis, Canada, in response to the September 11 attacks. It is the primary multilateral group that coordinates funding and in-kind support to help vulnerable countries around the world combat the spread of weapons and materials of mass destruction (WMDs).[1]
The Global Partnership began as a 10-year, US$20 billion initiative aimed at addressing the threat of WMD proliferation to non-state actors and states of proliferation concern. The initial focus was on programming in Russia and other countries of the Former Soviet Union (FSU) to mitigate serious threats posed by Soviet-era WMD legacies.[2][3] Specific priorities included: destroying stockpiles of chemical weapons, dismantling decommissioned nuclear submarines, safeguarding/disposing of fissile material, and the redirection of former weapons scientists.[4] In recognition of the Global Partnership’s success and the increasingly global nature of WMD proliferation and terrorism challenges, at the 2008 G8 Summit in Toyako, Japan, leaders agreed to expand the geographic focus of the Global Partnership beyond Russia and the FSU, and to target WMD proliferation threats wherever they presented. Additionally, at the 2011 G8 Summit in Deauville, France, G8 leaders extended the mandate of the Global Partnership beyond its original 10-year timeline (based on work undertaken by Canada during its 2010 G8 Presidency).[5]
To date the Global Partnership community has delivered more than US$25 billion in tangible threat-reduction programming and continues to lead international efforts to mitigate all manner of CBRN threats around the world.[6] As outlined in the Global Partnership’s annual Programming Annex, in 2020 a total of 245 Projects valued at US$669 million (or €555 million) were implemented by Members in dozens of countries in every region of the world.[7] Many additional contributions were measured not by financial means, but by the leadership and diplomatic efforts of members in the areas of threat reduction or non-proliferation.[7]