The United States has successfully secured 68 kilograms of highly enriched uranium, enough to make two nuclear weapons, from the Czech Republic. The nuclear material was moved to Russia where it will be processed into low enriched uranium, which will be used in nuclear power reactors.

Removal of excess nuclear materials is one of the most important parts of the United States’ proliferation strategy. It reduces the chances of nuclear material falling into the wrong hands and every removal contributes greatly to U.S. national security.

In a statement, National Security Council’s spokesperson, Caitlin Hayden, mentions the initiative as an international effort:

“The removal of highly enriched uranium from the Czech Republic was the culmination of a multi-year effort by the United States’ National Nuclear Security Administration, the Czech Republic’s Nuclear Research Institute, Russia’s Federal Atomic Energy Agency, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).”

For more about the United States’ efforts to secure loose nuclear material, please read American Security Project’s Fact Sheet: The Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Program: Securing and Safeguarding Weapons of Mass Destruction

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