North Korea's fifth nuclear test indicates that the country has not relented in its march toward greater nuclear capabilities. Citing the ostensible ineffectiveness of current American policy, several figures in Washington are calling for changes in the US's handling of the North Korean nuclear crisis.
Programmes
The 2016 OEWG Conference Advocates for Prohibition Treaty
This analysis is based on the fourth draft of the OEWG report, found here.
Clarifying Command on US Nuclear Weapons
Here’s a terrifying prospect: President Donald Trump with his finger on the nuclear button. This erratic narcissist with little knowledge of the world and, according to his former ghost writer, an attention span of five minutes, with the power to set off a nuclear war. This seems unlikely to come about now, with Trump trailing in the polls, but the election is some way off and it cannot be ruled out.
The impact of emerging technologies on the future of SSBNs
British Pugwash, in collaboration with the University of Leicester and BASIC, will hold a conference on the impact of merging technologies on the Future of SSBNs.
A Systems Approach to Nuclear Security, Non-proliferation, Deterrence and Disarmament
BASIC hosted a series of workshops in 2015-16 throughout the United States and United Kingdom employing holistic and soft systems tools to frame discussions on nuclear security and non-proliferation with experts, young people and individuals less familiar with nuclear weapons from a variety of cultural backgrounds and levels of experience.
Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?
British MPs have thrown their support behind the renewal of the Trident nuclear weapons programme. BASIC's executive director, Paul Ingram, was interviewed after the outcome of the Parliamentary vote, arguing that the issue will remain controversial. Watch the interview on Aljazeera's website here: http://video.aljazeera.com/channels/eng/videos/does-the-uk-need-a-nuclea…
Monday’s Trident Debate: What was mentioned, what was left out?
On Monday night, MPs voted 472 to 117 to replace UK’s Trident nuclear weapons system, following a five and half hour Parliamentary debate. The atmosphere was tense; the united SNP benches made an impassioned case against Trident from across the room, while the Conservatives all voted in favour, but for the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee who voted against the motion. Many arguments were aired both for and against Trident. But what kind of arguments did the MPs make?
Trident Wrapped Up?
It is a mystery why Cameron and then May took Trident to a vote yesterday. OK, so it’s nice to start off with a good strong issue that delivers a comfortable government majority, unites the Party and splits the opposition. But it risks slaughtering the goose that had just kept laying those golden eggs.