The United States has expressed its support for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines' decision to conclude an Additional Protocol during the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors meeting in Vienna, Austria. Howard Solomon, Chargé d’Affaires, ad interim, delivered the statement on March 5, 2025.
"The United States welcomes the actions by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to conclude an Additional Protocol and encourages Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to bring this agreement into force expeditiously," Solomon stated. The U.S. also agreed with the consensus to approve this instrument and authorized the Director General to sign and implement it.
The U.S. urged all states that have not yet fulfilled their obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to promptly conclude a Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement. Additionally, it called upon those who have not done so to enforce an Additional Protocol.
According to Solomon, "The combination of a Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and an Additional Protocol represents the de facto standard for achieving the safeguards objectives of the NPT." This standard is essential for ensuring that all special fissionable material used in peaceful nuclear activities remains under safeguards and is not diverted for weaponry purposes.
Furthermore, Solomon emphasized that states should update or rescind any outdated Small Quantities Protocols.
"Thank you, Chair," concluded Solomon's address at Agenda Item 7a of the IAEA Board of Governors Meeting.