The changing role of the G8 in promoting non-proliferation

While the G7/8 Summit has traditionally dealt mainly with financial and economic matters, the agenda of the summit has expanded progressively to encompass political and security related issues. The question of how to combat terrorism effectively was under consideration at G8 Summits prior to the attacks on the United States that took place on 11 September 2001. The G8 Summit was also a forum in which discussions about arms control and non-proliferation took place.

At the G8 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada that took place in June 2002, the G8 announced the creation of the Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction.

The Global Partnership is expected to generate an ambitious and costly set of projects that, taken together, could reduce the risk that nuclear, chemical or biological weapons as well as other dangerous materials will fall into unauthorized hands.

Through the Global Partnership the G8 may become a high-level steering group through which the most critical states can provide direction to and coordinate their international non-proliferation and disarmament assistance policies and programmes.