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]

Caribbean States Vow to Facilitate Swift Entry into Force of Nuclear Ban Treaty

By Jaya Ramachandran

GENEVA (IDN) –Seventy countries have signed and 23 ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) since it was opened for signature at the UN headquarters in New York on September 20, 2017, nearly two-and-a-half months after it was adopted by 122 states. The Treaty will enter into legal force 90 days after 50 nations have signed and ratified it. [2019-06-30 | P08] JAPANESE TEXT VERSION PDF | NORWEGIAN | SPANISH

Trump Should Beware of Bolton’s Bid to Sabotage START

By Daryl G. Kimball

This analysis by Daryl G. Kimball, Executive Director of the Arms Control Association (ACA) first appeared on June 28, 2019 in ArmsControl.org

WASHINGTON, DC (IDN-INPS) – Last year, President Donald Trump told reporters that he wanted to work with Russian President Vladimir Putin “to discuss the arms race, which is getting out of control.” [2019-06-29]

NPT Review Conference Will Benefit from CTBT's Entry into Force

By Jamshed Baruah

VIENNA (IDN) – Strongly pleading for a legally binding universal prohibition of nuclear tests, CTBTO Executive Secretary Lassina Zerbo has said that an early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) in a state of limbo for 23 years will positively influence the outcome of the 2020 NPT Review Conference. [2019-06-24]