In 2003, President George W. Bush unveiled the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) in a speech in
Krakow, Poland. The initiative was announced as a commitment
among endorsing nations to prevent the spread
of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their delivery
systems. What started with 11 like-minded nations that
endorsed the PSI Statement of Interdiction Principles had
grown to 105 endorsers in 2016. This was achieved without
treaties, ratifications, or other formal agreements as a basis
for membership. The initiative continues to be based on a
political commitment rather than on legal obligations. In
the United States, what started in a Republican administration
under President Bush continued to be supported by a
Democratic administration led by President Barack Obama.
With his Prague speech in April 2009, President Obama
reiterated U.S. support of the PSI as an essential tool in U.S.
foreign policy for fighting WMD proliferation. READ MORE >>