The International Security Network (ISN) published an article by BASIC's program support officer, Rachel Staley, on the possibility and desirability of nuclear abolition. The article concludes that while abolition may seem an arduous task, few governments would deny the link between non-proliferation and disarmament; if support for non-proliferation is there, there is an obligation to support global nuclear disarmament.
Paul Ingram and BASIC featured in EU Non-Proliferation Consortium
BASIC's executive director, Paul Ingram, was interviewd for 'nonproliferation.eu', the monthly newsletter from the EU Non-Proliferation Consortium. The interview focused on BASIC's work in support of the establishment of a WMD-free zone in the Middle East and how civil society can contribue to the debate. BASIC is hosting a track II meeting in coordination with the Finnish Ambassador, Jaakko Laajava and his team for the end of October in support of the Helsinki Conference to create a WMD-free zone in the Middle East, due to take place in the next few months.
UN First Committee and NATO Defence Ministers meeting
The United Nations General Assembly First Committee opens today in New York, the UN forum for disarmament and international security affairs. Its month-long session contains an ambitious program of work, including discussion on nuclear weapons and other WMDs, in the weaponisation of space, conventional weapons, regional disarmament and security, and disarmament machinery (conventions and treaties).
Labour Party defence in the debate on Trident
This week the Labour Party conference continues in Manchester. Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy spoke this morning with a focus on defence spending and support for service personnel. However, the future of Britain’s nuclear arsenal hit the headlines in this year’s conference season, with last week’s headlines reporting comments from recent Defence Minister Nick Harvey about the government’s review on Trident alternatives at the Liberal Democrats conference.
Istanbul event supporting 2012 conference on a WMD-free zone in Mideast
BASIC held a roundtable in Istanbul, on October 24 and 25, 2012, in support of the 2012 conference on a WMD-free zone in the Middle East.
The Track II event, held in coordination with the office of the conference facilitator, Jaakko Laajava of Finland, was attended by expert and government representatives from the region and beyond.
Read the final report from the roundtable: here.
Open letter to NATO Secretary General on B-61 upgrades
BASIC has written to the NATO Secretary General with concern over the rising cost of the new full-scope Life Extension Program for the U.S. B-61 nuclear bombs. The U.S. Department of Defense estimates the program costing billion, more than doubling original estimations.
Obama and Romney on U.S. Foreign Policy
Today, Barack Obama will speak about foreign policy at the Veterans of Foreign Wars national convention, followed by Mitt Romney who will speak at the same convention tomorrow. Romney, who has been criticized in the press for his lack of foreign policy and national security experience, is then scheduled to travel abroad, in an attempt to strengthen his reputation on foreign issues. He will go to London to speak at the start of the Olympics—an opportunity to build on the transatlantic relationship—and then to Israel and Palestine to speak with representatives of both nations.
Anglo-American (In)Dependence
Americans celebrate their Independence Day on Wednesday. It has been 236 years since they broke away from Great Britain, but the pair remain two of the closest allies in the world. But just how special is the so-called ‘special relationship’, and how much does this depend upon the cooperation between their nuclear weapons communities?