IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi met high-level officials from the U.S. administration to discuss important current issues related to non-proliferation and nuclear safety worldwide, during a visit to Washington DC where he also spoke to the heads of the World Bank and Asian Development Bank about the financing of nuclear energy projects.
It was the Director General’s first visit to the U.S. capital since President Donald Trump began his current term in office in January. The United States was a driving force behind the establishment of the IAEA in 1957 to enable countries to benefit from the many positive peaceful uses of nuclear energy, while preventing atomic bomb proliferation.
During a three-day visit that ended on Wednesday, Director General Grossi met Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and the chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), David Wright.
“The United States is an indispensable partner in our important work to make the world safer and more prosperous,” Director General Grossi said.
“In this regard, I’m very encouraged by my discussions in Washington DC this week and the strong support for the IAEA’s mission, especially our non-proliferation work and our efforts to promote the safe operation of nuclear power globally,” he said.
In his meetings with World Bank President Ajay Banga and ADB President Masato Kanda, Director General Grossi discussed the important role of nuclear energy in addressing some of the world’s most pressing development challenges and the opportunities for increased cooperation with multilateral development banks (MDBs) to help realize the full potential of peaceful nuclear applications.
