This week, representatives of Iran and the P5+1 (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States; plus Germany), also known as the E3+3, will meet in Geneva on Thursday and Friday in an attempt to make progress on resolving the standoff over Iran’s nuclear program. Anticipation is now building for some clear signs that each side is agreeing to measures that will convince the other side of intentions to follow through on a long-term game plan.
Analysis
US-UK Trident Nuclear Weapons Systems
This factsheet outlines the UK-US relationship on Trident and the specifications of each country’s systems.…
The Role of NATO in the French White Paper and Implications for Nuclear Arms Control
This paper examines the relationship that France has with NATO through its policy of nuclear deterrence in a European context, with a focus on France’s most recent “White Paper”.
Steps on the way forward to a WMD-Free Zone in the Middle East
On October 29th, 2013, BASIC hosted a small group of academics and experts on and from the Middle East region for a private roundtable in Washington, D.C. on the current challenges surrounding a WMD–free zone in the Middle East. This paper highlights the key points discussed.
Russia’s Multi-vector Nuclear Policy: a Hindrance to Disarmament
Today, Russia and the US possess approximately 95% of the world’s nuclear weapons, and bilateral nuclear relations between these two countries still constitute one of the main issues in global nuclear disarmament.
Repairing and refocusing a fractured nuclear discussion
Saying that nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament are interlinked may seem like a spectacular statement of the obvious. Non-proliferation – that is, preventing the further spread of nuclear weapons – relies heavily on our ability to simultaneously deliver results on disarmament – that is, getting rid of the nuclear weapons that currently exist around the world.
Finding a way out of the nuclear dispute with Iran: back to basics
The international diplomatic, economic and intelligence conflict over Iran’s nuclear program has now been in full flow for over a decade. Few crises have lasted this long at such tempo. It has involved complex games of diplomatic poker, missed opportunities and overplayed hands. Proposals have come and gone involving careful balancing of red lines and attempts to find common interest.
Strengthening Nonproliferation
In this report BASIC's senior fellow, Ward Wilson, argues that the perceived status of nuclear weapons as powerful political icons hinders nonproliferation efforts and encourages other states to retain or pursue nuclear weapons programs. Wilson also discusses specific steps states could take to tackle the increased symbolism of nuclear weapons and strengthen nonproliferation.