The Dominican Republic joined two efforts Friday to block the smuggling of nuclear and radioactive material into the United States, the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration said (see GSN, June 23).
The Caribbean nation is the latest country to sign on to the Megaports Initiative and the Container Security Initiative — programs that install detection equipment and U.S. personnel at foreign seaports to prevent shipment of “high-risk” shipments to the United States.
“Today’s agreement with the Dominican Republic is critical to international security and the stability of the global shipping network. It is a concrete example of each country’s commitment to preventing nuclear terrorism,” NNSA chief Linton Brooks said in a press release.
The Megaports program currently operates in six countries, with installation being implemented or negotiated in 30 other nations. The Container Security Initiative operates in 44 ports in North, South and Central America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East (National Nuclear Security Administration release, July 7).