Washington, Jan 28 (Inditop.com) Outlining his vision of a world without nuclear weapons, President Barack Obama says April’s Nuclear Security Summit, that would have India participating, would help ensure vulnerable nuclear materials never fall into the hands of terrorists.
Describing the threat of nuclear weapons as “perhaps the greatest danger to the American people”, he said Wednesday that he had embraced the vision of John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan through a strategy that reverses the spread of these weapons and seeks a world without them.
“To reduce our stockpiles and launchers, while ensuring our deterrent, the United States and Russia are completing negotiations on the farthest-reaching arms control treaty in nearly two decades” Obama said in his first State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress.
“And at April’s Nuclear Security Summit, we will bring forty-four nations together behind a clear goal: securing all vulnerable nuclear materials around the world in four years, so that they never fall into the hands of terrorists,” he said.
Suggesting that these diplomatic efforts have also strengthened US hand in dealing with those seeking nuclear weapons Obama said North Korea now faces increased isolation, and stronger sanctions and Iran is more isolated.
“And as Iran’s leaders continue to ignore their obligations, there should be no doubt: they, too, will face growing consequences,” he warned.
US was providing leadership and “engagement that advances the common security and prosperity of all people, Obama said. It was working through the G-20 to sustain a lasting global recovery and had gone from a “bystander to a leader in the fight against climate change.”
“We are helping developing countries to feed themselves, and continuing the fight against HIV/AIDS. And we are launching a new initiative that will give us the capacity to respond faster and more effectively to bio-terrorism or an infectious disease – a plan that will counter threats at home, and strengthen public health abroad.”
“As we have for over sixty years, America takes these actions because our destiny is connected to those beyond our shores. But we also do it because it is right,” Obama said.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to attend the summit along with other world leaders.
