Analysis

Nuke Abolition: Modernisation of Atomic Arsenal Acquiring Priority

BASIC's publication, “Beyond the United Kingdom,” has been summarized and quoted in this Global Perspectives article. The original report, authored by Ian Kearns, outlines trends among nuclear weapon states and addresses global security issues which may drive nuclear proliferation.

Iran Update: Number 154

  • Iran invites IAEA to visit; latest Board of Directors report more detailed and critical
  • Attack on the British Embassy in Tehran
  • European efforts to coordinate sanctions
  • New U.S. sanctions package targets Iran’s Central Bank and oil sector

A Visit to Moscow: Disarmament, Arms Control, the Role of Nuclear Weapons, and NATO-Russia Strategic Dialogue

From 28-30 November 2011, BASIC executive director Paul Ingram travelled to Moscow and participated in several meetings on nuclear arms control with a focus on tactical nuclear weapons, in order to reach out to Russian officials and parliamentarians to discuss next steps in arms control and disarmament.

Damping the powder-keg: Paul Ingram responds to ‘Playing with fire in the Middle East’

BASIC's executive director, Paul Ingram authored this piece for Open Democracy. While the outlook for peace in the Middle East remains bleak, there are several factors in the region that may bring forth a sense of stability.  Many states in the region have shown restraint and caution over making extreme military moves that would result in a conflict. Ingram indicates that the Conference on a Zone Free of WMD in the Middle East, due to take place late 2012, may bring major players in the region to the same negotiating table and help stablise relations on proliferation issues.

Wilton Park arms control conference

Some of the world’s leading nuclear arms controllers are meeting at the UK Foreign Office conference centre in Wilton Park, Sussex, this week. As the week progresses, there will be discussions on the state of the nuclear non-proliferation system, the initiatives currently in train after the  NPT agreement around an Action Plan in May 2010, and prospects for progress in the current five-year NPT round that culminates in the 2015 Review Conference.