Around the world, stockpiles of excess, poorly-secured or otherwise at-risk conventional weapons remain a serious challenge to peace and prosperity. In the wrong hands, small arms and light weapons (SA/LW) fuel political instability and violence, while more advanced conventional weapons, particularly MANPADS, pose a serious threat to commercial aviation. Degrading stockpiles may explode without warning, devastating nearby population centers. Meanwhile, hazards from landmines and UXO, including cluster munition remnants, artillery shells, and mortars, continue to kill and maim people long after conflicts have ended. They prevent the safe use of land, which suppresses economic development and prevents displaced persons from returning home.
The U.S. CWD program embodies our commitment to reduce these threats worldwide. The United States is the world’s leading financial supporter of CWD, providing nearly $2.5 billion in assistance to more than 90 countries since 1993. The CWD program helps foreign governments destroy excess stockpiles of conventional arms, better secure the stockpiles they retain, and clear landmines and other explosive remnants of war. Our efforts reduce the likelihood that weapons will fall into the wrong hands, and protect innocent populations from deadly hazards. By alleviating these threats to civilian security, this program demonstrates core U.S. values that respect the dignity of every human being.
