Moving forward, the US may best be able to engage Russia on its nuclear security indirectly, by falling back on global standards and instruments. The international nuclear security system is not perfect, but it is getting stronger By actively contributing to multilateral initiatives, the US can strengthen the global system by improving security standards and promoting transparency and communication among all states. Importantly, however, the US would have to ensure it was not perceived as trying to dictate the system. Russia left CTR, ended assistance in 2015, and boycotted the 2016 NSS because it saw the US as imposing on its sovereignty. Given its great power status, its large quantities of nuclear material, and its political instability, Russia certainly remains a principal concern. However, in the interest of global nuclear security, a limited partnership between the US and Russia is preferable to a complete lack of engagement. Future nuclear security challenges and objectives may include the creation of a multilateral assistance instrument, in which any state can give or receive aid within a regulated system; the creation of incentivizing and/or coercive measures to ensure a state cannot withdraw from the global nuclear security system; and the facilitation of mandatory outside verification of member states' security infrastructure.
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