The United States has acknowledged the steps taken by Somalia and Equatorial Guinea to finalize a Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and an Additional Protocol. During the IAEA Board of Governors Meeting held in Vienna, Austria, on June 10, 2025, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Howard Solomon delivered the U.S. statement on Agenda Item 6a concerning nuclear verification.
In his address, Solomon stated: "The United States welcomes the actions by Somalia and Equatorial Guinea to conclude a Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and Additional Protocol and encourages Somalia and Equatorial Guinea to bring these agreements into force expeditiously." He further expressed satisfaction with joining consensus to approve these instruments and authorize their implementation by the Director General.
The U.S. urged all nations that have not yet fulfilled their obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to conclude a Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement promptly. Additionally, it called for states that have not enacted an Additional Protocol to do so at once. 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."
Solomon also encouraged countries with outdated Small Quantities Protocols to modify or rescind them as part of strengthening global nuclear non-proliferation efforts.
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