Ottawa, Ontario - 10 April 2014
The Government of Canada is committed to working with international partners to enhance nuclear security, combat nuclear terrorism, and prevent terrorist organizations from acquiring weapons and materials of mass destruction (WMD). This commitment runs parallel to Canada’s ongoing work to strengthen its security relations with partners in the
Americas, in support of its Strategy for Engagement in the Americas.
To this end, on April 10, 2014, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and His Excellency Ollanta Humala Tasso, President of the Republic of Peru, announced that Canada and Peru will work together to strengthen international efforts to combat the illicit trafficking of nuclear and radiological materials.
The cooperation project will enhance Peru’s capacity to detect and deter the illicit transfer of nuclear and radiological material and related goods that could be used by terrorists or states of proliferation concern to construct a nuclear or radiological dispersal device. Project activities are expected to include the provision of equipment and training to address Peru’s specific needs in this area. Activities are expected to commence in early 2015, and run until 2018.
Canada’s support for the initiative will be taken from the more than $28 million that Prime Minister Harper committed towards fighting nuclear terrorism at the March 2014 Nuclear Security Summit. Canada’s commitment will be delivered through its Global Partnership Program.
The Global Partnership Program is the main mechanism through which Canada supports international efforts to combat the proliferation of WMD and related terrorism. Since its establishment in 2002, the Program has provided roughly $970 million for programming to reduce the threat of WMD terrorism.
