News: In October 2025, Russia’s State Duma voted to withdraw from the PMDA, ending the long-suspended U.S.–Russia pact on disposing weapons-grade plutonium.
About Plutonium Management and Disposition Agreement (PMDA)
- It is a bilateral arms control accord between the United States and Russia, , to eliminate significant amounts of surplus weapons-grade plutonium from their military stockpiles.
- It was signed in 2000 and came into force in 2011 after a 2010 protocol.
- Objective: To eliminate excess weapons-grade plutonium and reduce proliferation risk by converting it into proliferation-resistant forms so it cannot return to nuclear weapons use.
- Commitment:
- Both countries committed to dispose of 34 metric tons each of weapons-grade plutonium.
- Both countries agreed to turn weapons-grade plutonium into mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel and then burn (irradiate) it in power reactors so it could not be easily used again for weapons.
- Verification: Bilateral monitoring and inspection, with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) verification once appropriate agreements are concluded; the 2010 protocol called for early consultations with the IAEA.
- Concern with PMDA
- The US began constructing its MOX Fuel Fabrication Facility as part of its obligations, but later (2016) shifted to a dilution-and-disposal approach due to cost, which was criticized by Russia for potential reversibility.
- In 2016, Russia suspended its participation, citing US non-compliance and policy disagreements.
- In October 2025, Russia officially withdrew from the agreement, further deteriorating bilateral nuclear arms control and increasing proliferation concerns
