U.S. Department of Energy Team Visits Mongolia

A team from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Second Line of Defense Initiative (SLD) visited Mongolia August 20 through 24 to begin preliminary site work on the installation of fixed and handheld radiological detection equipment at Mongolia’s borders and ports of entry. Once installed, the equipment will significantly enhance Mongolia’s ability to prevent the smuggling across its borders of materials that could be used to make nuclear or radiological dispersal devices.  

While in Ulaanbaatar, the team also met with Mongolian officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, the General Customs Office, the General Border Protection Office, and the State Specialized Inspection Agency to discuss joint efforts to prevent the illicit trafficking of nuclear and radiological materials.  

SLD’s activities are part of a larger US Government effort to assist countries in combating the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons as called for under US Security Council Resolution 1540. The US Government will provide all necessary funding for the installation of the monitoring equipment, communications tools, and personnel training over the next several years.

The United States leads the world in efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. To combat the spread of these weapons, the U.S. is undertaking many multilateral initiatives with our partners in the global war against terrorism, with our traditional allies, and in the United Nations. The U.S. believes that proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) by rogue states and terrorist organizations represents one of the greatest threats not only to our security, but to the security of all. Preventing proliferation through proactive efforts is a primary focus of our global strategy.