FOCUS THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | MARCH-APRIL 2026 27 FOCUS NUCLEAR SECURITY NEGOTIATING NUCLEAR SECURITY With the United States and Saudi Arabia having recently announced their agreement on a new framework for civil nuclear energy cooperation, we have a reminder of the importance of an aspect of diplomatic engagement that usually fails to get much attention: the role of diplomacy in setting the terms for America’s civil nuclear trade with other countries. This kind of diplomacy is especially important because Congress long ago made clear that Americans couldn’t provide any nuclear technology to anybody just because there was a buck to be made—and that, despite the many benefits and advantages of such cooperation, the potential risks associated with nuclear technology were such that this trade had to be held to high policy standards of nonproliferation probity. Specifically, under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, no cooperation in nuclear energy development can be undertaken with another country unless we have in place an agreement with that country requiring that specified safeguards—including International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards—be maintained on all nuclear materials and equipment transferred, and that no such assistance will be used to develop nuclear weaponry. Christopher A. Ford, PhD, served as U.S. assistant secretary of State for international security and nonproliferation in 2018–2021, also performing the duties of the under secretary for arms control and international security for the last 15 months of that period. He is presently a professor with Missouri State University’s School of Defense and Strategic Studies and a senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. The role of diplomacy in setting the terms for America’s civil nuclear trade with other countries usually gets scant attention. Here’s why it’s important. BY CHRISTOPHER A. FORD A View from the First Trump Administration
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODIyMDU=