President Barack Obama urged global leaders Friday not to be complacent in the face of an evolving threat from terrorists who he said are eager to unleash a devastating nuclear attack. “It would change our world,” he declared.
Hosting his last nuclear security summit, Obama said the world has measurably reduced the risk of nuclear terrorism by taking “concrete, tangible steps.” He said no terrorists have thus far obtained nuclear material, and he praised recent moves by Argentina, Switzerland and Uzbekistan to eliminate their stockpiles of highly enriched uranium.
Still, Obama said, the prospect of the Islamic State group or other extremists getting a weapon remains “one of the greatest threats to global security.” He pointed out that the IS group had already used chemical weapons and that al-Qaida has long sought nuclear material.
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