Category: ARMAMENTS

By Norman Solomon* SAN FRANCISCO, 28 March 2023 (IDN) — The announcement by Vladimir Putin over the weekend that Russia will deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus marked a further escalation of potentially cataclysmic tensions over the war in neighbouring Ukraine. As the Associated Press reported, “Putin said the move was triggered by Britain’s decision […]

By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS, 22 March 2023 (IDN) —The tripartite deal between the UK and the US to provide nuclear submarines (SSNs) to Australia—announced March 13—is threatening to have repercussions worldwide A joint statement by the three countries (AUKUS) described it as a trilaterally-developed submarine based on the UK’s next-generation design that incorporates technology […]

By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS, 15 March 2023 (IDN) — Saudi Arabia and Iran— two archrivals in the Middle East who severed links seven years ago—re-established diplomatic, political and economic relations last week in a historic deal brokered by China, one of the world’s major nuclear powers. Described as a victory for Chinese diplomacy in […]

By ICAN BERLIN, 14 March 2023 (IDN) — Nuclear tensions on the Korean peninsula have remained high in the early months of 2023 with North Korea continuing missile tests and the United States and South Korea mounting joint military exercises, including one practicing how to respond to a nuclear attack and others involving nuclear-capable American […]

By Jamshed Baruah GENEVA, 12 March 2023 (IDN) — European parliamentarians have emphasized the need for taking “concrete steps” towards nuclear disarmament so that it becomes “a priority for the year 2023”. This, they said, should be “complementary to stigmatising nuclear weapons and strengthening disarmament treaties such as the TPNW“, the United Nations Treaty on […]

By Neena Bhandari SYDNEY, 23 Feb 2023 (IDN) — Australia and Indonesia have committed to strengthening the global nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regime and cooperating in building practical nuclear safeguard capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region, even as concerns remain over Australia’s push to acquire the nuclear-powered submarines.

By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS, 21 Feb 2023 (IDN) — The United States implicitly accused Russia and China, two permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC), of protecting a belligerent Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) for its continued violations of UNSC resolutions while firing three ballistic missiles this month.

Viewpoint by Sergio Duarte The writer is Ambassador and former UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs. President of Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs. “Recalling that States must refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State and that the establishment and maintenance of […]

By Ariana Smith The writer is the Executive Director of the Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy NEW YORK (IDN) — The recent US allegation of Russian noncompliance with the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) cannot be adequately understood outside of the context of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. The Russian invasion, […]