Counterproliferation Definition
Counterproliferation Definition
Definition
Counterproliferation involves efforts to combat the spread or growth of weapons—conventional weapons, weapons of mass destruction, and related technology—that threaten the United States.
A number of U.S. government agencies—including law enforcement, licensing, and intelligence entities—are involved in the effort to restrict the sale, or theft, of restricted U.S. technologies to foreign nations, terrorist organizations, and others who would do our country harm.
Methods used to counter this threat vary—from diplomatic efforts and licensing restrictions to export enforcement and counterintelligence/foreign intelligence efforts.
Among those methods, the FBI is involved in export enforcement as appropriate, working with its partners on investigations into violations of export regulations that can lead to civil, administrative, and criminal punishments. In conjunction with its intelligence community partners, the Bureau harvests and uses foreign intelligence as it relates to proliferation efforts.
The FBI is the lead U.S. agency in the counterintelligence realm, and as such works—once again, with its partners—to identify, neutralize, or otherwise disrupt proliferation networks that often span the globe. Those partners include the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations.
02.12.15
In the News |
01.27.16
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Boston: Chinese national sentenced for providing U.S. goods to support Iran’s nuclear program. |
08.31.15
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Washington: Russian nuclear energy official pleads guilty to money laundering conspiracy. |
06.11.15
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Newark: Man admits smuggling $65 million in sensitive electronics to Russia. |
Multi-Agency Counterproliferation Efforts The FBI Counterproliferation Center works closely with other U.S. government centers, most notably: Export Enforcement Coordination Center, which is managed by Immigration & Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, serves as a conduit between federal law enforcement and U.S. intelligence agencies for the exchange of information related to potential U.S. export control violations. National Counterproliferation Center, which falls under the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, helps lead U.S. intelligence agencies in developing integrated strategies and actions to counter current WMD threats and to anticipate and counter future threats. |