Proliferation
Security Initiative FAQ
What
is the purpose of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI)?
Who is leading the PSI?
What is the Statement of Interdiction Principles?
Are PSI exercises designed to send any particular country
a message?
Is there a blacklist of states of concern?
Do PSI activities comply with international and national
law?
Will other countries join the PSI?
Will the PSI affect legitimate dual-use commerce?
How does PSI relate to other non-proliferation regimes?
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Proliferation Security Initiative
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What
is the purpose of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI)?
The PSI
builds on existing mechanisms to prevent the proliferation of weapons
of mass destruction and their delivery systems, consistent with national
authorities and relevant international law. The PSI complements and
reinforces other national and international non-proliferation efforts,
including export control regimes.
Who is leading the PSI?
The PSI
is an informal arrangement for cooperative action between like-minded
countries. It does not have an overarching treaty, organisation or headquarters.
Its strength is its focus on practical action against WMD proliferation.
PSI participating
countries agree to cooperate, as required and as is practical in a given
situation and to act within national and international law. To integrate
and benchmark operational capability, participating countries have conducted
numerous exercises, such as Australia's PACIFIC PROTECTOR 03 and PACIFIC
PROTECTOR 06.
What
is the Statement of Interdiction Principles?
The Statement
of Interdiction Principles sets out concrete actions for a more coordinated
and effective basis through which to impede and stop shipments of WMD,
delivery systems, and related materials flowing to and from states and
non-state actors of proliferation concern. All PSI participants have
endorsed the Statement of Interdiction Principles and encourage other
states to do so.
The Statement
of Interdiction Principles is available on the internet at http://www.dfat.gov.au.
Are
PSI exercises designed to send any particular country a message?
The PSI is a global initiative. Interdiction training exercises undertaken
under PSI auspices are not aimed against any specific country or non-state
actor.
Is there a blacklist of states of concern?
No. The
PSI aims to help prevent trafficking in WMD by any state or group engaged
in or supporting WMD proliferation programmes, anywhere in the world.
Do
PSI activities comply with international and national law?
All PSI
participating countries have made an undertaking, by endorsing the Statement
of Interdiction Principles, to act only within international law and
national law. The PSI itself does not grant authority to conduct interdictions.
This is clearly understood by all PSI participating nations.
Will
other countries join the PSI?
The PSI is not an organisation countries "join", but rather,
a framework for activities. Countries can participate in the PSI in
a variety of ways, such as by stating their support for the Statement
of Interdiction Principles (SIP) agreed in Paris in September 2003.
The SIP outlines the core objectives and operational measures of the
PSI. More than 70 countries have indicated their support for PSI since
its inception in 2003.
Will the PSI affect legitimate dual-use commerce?
No - quite
the contrary. The PSI may help foster legitimate commerce. Co-operation
to stop proliferation should facilitate legitimate trade by increasing
confidence in that trade. Private industries may also prefer to do business
with PSI participants, as they demonstrate their commitment to protecting
international commerce from those who hide proliferation among legitimate
trade routes and practices.
How
does PSI relate to other non-proliferation regimes?
The PSI
complements existing counter proliferation treaties and measures, such
as export control regimes. It does not replace other non-proliferation
mechanisms, but builds on them by providing an operational mechanism
when proliferators try to evade these regimes. In the words of UN Secretary
General Annan, the PSI helps to "fill a gap in our defences".
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Information
current at 13 July 2006
