Is There a Way Out of Nuclear Stalemate?
By Ramesh Jaura
BERLIN | 16 March 2024 (IDN) — Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has entered the third year. President Vladimir Putin has been threatening the use of nuclear weapons. Republican Presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump, doubled down his threat and appeared to invite Putin to invade any NATO member failing to meet the 2 per cent of GDP target for defence spending. (P32) ARABIC | JAPANESE |
Papua New Guinea Ratifies CTBT, Advancing Treaty Universalisation in Pacific
NEW YORK | 16 March 2024 (IDN | CTBTO) — Papua New Guinea has become the 178th State to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). As a State Party to both the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the Treaty of Rarotonga, Papua New Guinea had already committed to fulfilling the core obligation of the CTBT by refraining from conducting any nuclear explosions.
Deadlock Over Disarmament ‘Not Acceptable’: Guterres
GENEVA | 28 February 2024 (IDN | UN Geneva) — Amid geopolitical divides, arms competition, increasingly dangerous new technologies and an elevated nuclear risk, the Secretary-General highlighted his concern that the UN Conference on Disarmament is consistently failing to deliver.
Need to Invigorate the Nuclear Disarmament Process
By Dr. J. Enkhsaikhan
The writer is Chairman of Blue Banner NGO and Former Permanent Representative of Mongolia to the United Nations.
ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia | 28 February 2024 (IDN) — Despite or perhaps because of the increase in geopolitical tensions, conflicts and the rise in the risks of nuclear weapons use, it is high time to look at the state of nuclear disarmament and consider what needs to be done to practically promote it. (P31) INDONESIAN | JAPANESE | TURKISH
Is Nuclear Outer Space a Possible Reality or an Empty Threat?
By Thalif Deen
UNITED NATIONS | 21 February 2024 (IDN) — The growing fear of a nuclear weapon in outer space was perhaps never anticipated 65 years ago when the UN General Assembly routinely created a Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) back in 1959. (P30) ARABIC | FRENCH | JAPANESE | SPANISH
Ending the Existential Risks of the Menace of Nuclear Weapons
By Tariq Rauf*
VIENNA | 20 February 2024 (IDN) — Following the Trinity nuclear test detonation of 16 July 1945, nuclear scientist Leó Szilárd observed: “Almost without exception, all the creative physicists had misgivings about the use of the bomb” and further that “[President] Truman did not understand at all what was involved regarding nuclear weapons”.
The Complexity of Nuclear Submarine Safeguards Impacts the Current Landscape
By Leonam dos Santos Guimarâes*
RIO DE JANEIRO | 14 February 2024 (IDN) — The topic of applying safeguards to nuclear submarine fuel, focusing on ensuring security and proliferation resistance, involves a complex interplay of international regulations, agreements, and technical considerations. (P29) FRENCH | HINDI | ITALIAN | JAPANESE
Russia Refuses Talks Though New START Expires in Two Years
By Libby Flatoff and Shizuka Kuramitsu
The writers are program and research assistants at the Arms Control Association (ACA). This article first appeared in ‘Arms Control Now’ of the ACA and is being reproduced with their permission.
WASHINGTON, D.C. | 7 February 2024 (IDN) — With less than two years to go before the expiration of the last remaining treaty limiting the world’s two largest arsenals, Russian leaders continue to reject U.S. offers to discuss a new nuclear arms control framework.
The US Should Have Persuaded Newcomers to Renounce Nuclear Weapons
By Jonathan Power
LUND, Sweden | 6 February 2024 (IDN) —There are 29 states which have, at one time or another, set about becoming nuclear weapons powers or have explored the possibility. Most have failed or drawn back. Only the US, Russia, France, UK, China, India, Israel, Pakistan and North Korea have crossed the threshold.
Nuclear Deterrence Justifies Possession — Threatens Use of World’s Deadliest Weapon
By Thalif Deen
UNITED NATIONS | 30 January 2024 (IDN) — The annual Nuclear Deterrence Summit, scheduled to take place in Washington DC January 31-February 2, will focus on an ideology that has long triggered critical responses from anti-nuclear and peace activists.