Proliferation Security Initiative

The Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) met on October 9-10, 2003, in London. "Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, the UK and the US were represented. ... The London meeting was the fourth meeting of the PSI, consolidating and building on the foundations laid at Madrid (12 June); Brisbane (9-10 July); and Paris (3-4 September)."

"The Statement of Interdiction Principles, agreed at Paris in September, outlines the scope of the Initiative. It makes clear that 'States or non-state actors of proliferation concern' generally refers to those countries or entities that the PSI participants involved establish should be subject to interdiction activities because they are engaged in proliferation through: (1) efforts to develop or acquire chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons and associated delivery systems; or (2) transfers (either selling, receiving, or facilitating) of WMD, their delivery systems, or related materials.

"Participants agreed that the Initiative aimed to impede and stop trafficking of WMD, their delivery systems and related materials by any state or non-state actor engaged in or supporting WMD proliferation programmes, at any time and in any place. ... WMD is a global threat which calls for a global response."

Interdiction Exercises

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 * Australian-led maritime interdiction training exercise in the Coral Sea, September 2003.
 * UK-led air interception command post exercise in London (prior to October 9-10, 2003 meeting in London).
 * Spanish-led maritime interdiction training exercise in the Mediterranean, October 14-17, 2003.
 * French-led maritime interdiction training exercise in the Mediterranean, November 24-28, 2003.
 * Italian-led air interception training exercise, December 3-4, 2003.
 * US-led maritime interdiction training exercise in the Arabian Sea, January 2004.
 * Polish-led ground interdiction exercise, early 2004.
 * Italian-led maritime interdiction exercise in the Mediterranean, Spring 2004.
 * French-led air interception exercise, Spring 2004.
 * German-led interdiction exercise, at an international airport, March 2004.

Other Related SourceWatch Resources

 * preemptive war
 * War on terrorism