Jordan, US review efforts to counter nuclear smuggling

AMMAN — Representatives of Jordan and the US met last week to share perspectives on the threat of nuclear and radiological smuggling and to review both governments’ cooperation to counter that threat, according to a statement from the US embassy in Jordan on Wednesday.

Ambassador Makram Queisi led the Jordanian delegation while Phillip Dolliff, acting deputy assistant secretary of state for nonproliferation programmes, led the US delegation. The discussions are part of ongoing bilateral cooperation to prevent, detect and respond to smuggling incidents involving nuclear and other radioactive materials, according to the statement.

Since signing a Joint Action Plan in January 2016, both sides have exchanged best practices, consulted one another on their respective organisational structures governing nuclear security and collaborated to equip and train Jordan’s Counter Nuclear Smuggling Team, the statement added.