About 50 participants – representatives of Gulf states and experts from the region, and U.S. and European experts and officials, exchanged views on Nuclear Non-Proliferation in the Gulf during a conference on March 21st and 22nd. The workshop highlighted a number of themes, including: justice and rights, disarmament, universality and the health of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and Iran.
Publication
Norway’s Approach to NATO’s Deterrence and Defence Posture Review
NATO is currently debating its nuclear posture as part of the Deterrence and Defence Posture Review, for discussion at the May 2012 Chicago summit. This could have an important bearing on the future direction for NATO – an Alliance bent on maintaining superior and comprehensive capabilities, or one that plays a proactive role in multilateral disarmament.
Prospects for progress on Iran’s nuclear file
The stand-off over Iran’s nuclear programme is fraught with danger, with Israel and U.S. presidential candidates urging tougher action. Military action poses an inherent risk to the global non-proliferation regime, in particular if it were unilateral action by Israel, a non-NPT state acting to punish a member-state for apparently transgressing it.
Study counts cost of Trident
The latest report to come from BASIC's Trident Commission by Keith Hartley was written about in Worldwide Nicosia Business Review. The article stresses how the Commission's final report will have an effect on the debate in the UK and the final decision in 2016.
Trident Cancellation Could Save UK £83.5 Billion
Defence Professionals has published an overview of the BASIC Trident Commission's latest report on defence industrial aspects and has emphasized the strong case for a review of the UK's nuclear weapons policy.
Defence-Industrial Issues: Employment, Skills, Technology and Regional Impacts
This second BASIC Trident Commission report focuses on issues around jobs, the maintenance of skills and technology and the regional economic concerns that will inevitably have an impact on political decisions.
BASIC 2011 Annual Activities Report
There was overwhelming momentum seen in 2010 on the international stage with numerous initiatives on arms control, nuclear non-proliferation, and disarmament. Unfortunately, this momentum was not as evident in 2011, as it seemed as though the international focus had shifted. Nevertheless, BASIC’s tempo was itself maintained into 2011 as we attempted to play our role in returning the focus to effective efforts to achieve nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament in the United Kingdom, United States, Middle East, and Europe.
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.