The Nuclear Risk Reduction Center (NRRC) is part of the

United States Department of State The United States Department of State (DOS), or State Department, is an executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for the country's foreign policy and relations. Equivalent to the ministry of foreign affairs of other n ...

. Its Russian counterpart in Moscow is the

National Nuclear Risk Reduction Center The National Nuclear Risk Reduction Center (Russian: НЦУЯО, Национальный центр по уменьшению ядерной опасности) is part of the Russian Ministry of Defense, and known also as ''The Directorate for ...

in the

Russian Ministry of Defense The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation (russian: Министерство обороны Российской Федерации, Минобороны России, informally abbreviated as МО, МО РФ or Minoboron) is the govern ...

. The NRRC was created in 1987 by an agreement between the

United States Secretary of State The United States secretary of state is a member of the executive branch of the federal government of the United States and the head of the U.S. Department of State. The office holder is one of the highest ranking members of the president's Ca ...

and the

Soviet Foreign Minister The Ministry of External Relations (MER) of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) (russian: Министерство иностранных дел СССР) was founded on 6 July 1923. It had three names during its existence: People's Co ...

. Its purpose was to create an additional channel of communication for the prevention of

nuclear war Nuclear warfare, also known as atomic warfare, is a theoretical military conflict or prepared political strategy that deploys nuclear weaponry. Nuclear weapons are weapons of mass destruction; in contrast to conventional warfare, nuclear w ...

, in addition to the

Hot Line A hotline is a point-to-point communications link in which a call is automatically directed to the preselected destination without any additional action by the user when the end instrument goes off-hook. An example would be a phone that automa ...

and diplomatic channels. The NRRC began operations on April 1, 1988. The NRRC is online 24 hours a day and relays information regarding the arms activities of both nations so as to prevent accidental outbreak of nuclear war. In 2013, the Nuclear Risk Reduction Center was expanded in scope in order to convey inquiries and messages regarding

cybersecurity Computer security, cybersecurity (cyber security), or information technology security (IT security) is the protection of computer systems and networks from attack by malicious actors that may result in unauthorized information disclosure, the ...

incidents. On October 31, 2016, the channel was used to convey a message demanding an end to Russian interference with the United States Presidential election.

References

External links

Federation of American Scientists information on the NRRCs in Washington and Moscow
United States Department of State Arms control Nuclear weapons Cold War history of the United States 1987 establishments in the United States {{nuclear-weapon-stub

See also

References

External links