Multilateralization of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle: The Need to Build Trust

Y. Yudin

The success of multilateral approaches to the nuclear fuel cycle depends on their political acceptability. The central problem hampering progress toward a multilateral approach is distrust among states. There are no technical or legal questions that cannot be resolved in due course—the problem of building trust is a political problem that needs to be tackled using political means. To be successful, multilateral fuel cycle arrangements will require broad political consensus on how the international community can limit the spread of sensitive nuclear technologies, while allowing full access for all states to the benefits of peaceful applications of nuclear energy. This book examines the priorities and concerns of non-supplier states and identifies areas of potential convergence for suppliers and non-suppliers.