INF Treaty’s Demise Opens Door to a Dangerous Arms Race

Viewpoint by Daryl G. Kimball

The writer is Executive Director of the Arms Control Association. The following is the text of his statement issued on August 2.

WASHINGTON, DC (IDN | Arms Control Association) – The loss of the landmark INF Treaty, which helped end the Cold War nuclear arms race, is a blow to international peace and security. Russian noncompliance with the INF Treaty is unacceptable and merits a strong response. But President Trump’s decision to terminate the treaty will not eliminate Russia’s noncompliant 9M729 missiles — and is a mistake. [2019-08-02]

Growing Concern about US-Russian Disarmament Treaties

By Jamshed Baruah

NEW YORK (IDN) – In his agenda for disarmament, Securing Our Common Future, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres calls for reinvigorated dialogue, serious negotiations and a return to a common vision leading towards nuclear disarmament. [2019-07-31 | P09] JAPANESE TEXT VERSION VERSION PDF | RUSSIAN

Iran at the Edge of a Cliff as the Bomb Question Hangs Fire

Trump Scrapped Security Council Endorsed Nuclear Deal

Viewpoint by Jonathan Power

LUND, Sweden (IDN-INPS) – There’s never been a full-scale war between two nuclear-armed states. If Iran one day did cross the nuclear threshold the same deterrence will apply. No one rational would want to provoke their own incineration. Columbia university professor, Kenneth Waltz, the distinguished theorist on the conduct of war, wrote in Foreign Affairs that with Israel possessing over 200 nuclear weapons (which the U.S. refuses to publicly admit) Iran having a bomb would bring stability. [2019-07-24]

Nuclear Watchdog Chief Amano Leaves Behind a Rich Legacy

By Reinhard Jacobsen

VIENNA (IDN) – Within days of his decision to step down for health reasons in March 2020 as Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Yukia Amano passed away at the age of 72 on July 22, 2019. His latest mandate was due to run until 2021. He headed the agency since 2009. [2019-07-23]

NATO Chief Should Urge USA to Work with Russia For Arms Control

Viewpoint by Daryl G. Kimball

The writer is Executive Director of the Arms Control Association. This article first appeared on July 15 on the organization's website.

WASHINGTO, DC (IDN-INPS) – Russian pursuit of the 9M729 intermediate-range missile, which is banned under the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, is unacceptable and merits a strong response. But NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg’s formula, as expressed in a new op-ed published in the German-language Frankfurter Allgemeine, is inadequate. [2019-07-21]

ICAN Slates Sweden’s Decision Not to Sign Nuclear Ban Treaty

By Rita Joshi

BERLIN (IDN) – The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), which received the Nobel Peace Prize for 2017, has criticized Sweden’s decision not to sign the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).

Sweden’s Foreign Minister Margot Wallström announced at a press conference on July 12, 2019 that Sweden will not currently sign the UN nuclear ban treaty. “Sweden’s decision … is a step backwards and a historic violation of Swedish security policy,” said ICAN Executive Director Beatrice Fihn, a Swedish national.  [2019-07-14]

New Report Warns of Resurfacing Nuclear Risks

By Jaya Ramachandran

NEW YORK (IDN) – In the run-up to the 50th anniversary of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) in 2020, arms control experts have warned that "the risk of nuclear use is increasing and … critical nonproliferation and disarmament norms are eroding".

Assessing Progress on Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament in 2016-2019, the Arms Control Association, says: "While there have been some modest gains on safeguards, there has been significant backsliding on the standards related to arms control and risk reduction." [2019-07-13]

Warheads to Windmills: 3 Ways to Address Climate Emergency

By ICAN

GENEVA (IDN-INPS) – A recent report released by NuclearBan.US, “Warheads to Windmills: How to Pay for a Green New Deal,” shows how eliminating nuclear weapons will play a crucial part in preventing the worst of the climate crisis. The report is focused on the US in particular, but it offers a blueprint for all nine of the nuclear nations. Here’s what you need to know: [2019-07-12]

Strengthening Awareness of Arms Control and Disarmament

By Reinhard Jacobsen

VIENNA (IDN) – Arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation are essential to build a safer, more secure world and to protect people from harm. Strengthening the participation of youth in these processes – particularly women – has been recognized by the UN Security Council to be important in efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security. [2019-07-04]

What After the Trump-Kim Meeting at the Demilitarized Zone?

Viewpoint by Kelsey Davenport

The author is director for nonproliferation policy at the  Arms Control Association. This article is being reproduced from the Association’s Website.

WASHINGTON, DC (IDN| INPS) – U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un met at the demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating North and South Korea June 30 and agreed to restart negotiations on denuclearization and peacebuilding in the region. Trump was in South Korea for talks with President Moon Jae-in and had planned to visit the DMZ, but his invitation to Kim to meet at the border was publicly announced in a last-minute tweet June 28. [2019-07-03]