The third briefing report from the BASIC Trident Commission focuses on the nuclear relationship between the United Kingdom and France, and the two countries’ attempts at nuclear cooperation.
France
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty meeting, elections in Iran and France
The first annual NPT Preparatory Committee in the 2015 round begins today. With a full work plan agreed in May 2010, delegates have a varied agenda, but it seems likely that Iran’s nuclear programme will form a shadow over discussions in Vienna.
Academic Lays Out Plan for Disarmament
Recommendations from a report by BASIC board member Andrew Cottey were quoted in the Irish Evening Echo on July 11, 2010. The report was published to coincide with talks on multilateralising disarmament.
Multilateralizing Nuclear Arms Control: an agenda for the P5 meeting in Paris
As the world’s established nuclear weapon states, the only nuclear weapon state signatories of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the permanent members of the UN Security Council, the United States, Russia, China, France and the UK (the P5) are central to global nuclear politics
An agenda for the P5 meeting in Paris: BASIC report
The world’s officially recognised nuclear powers, meeting in Paris today, should expand upon their existing commitments under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and agree a disarmament roadmap, according to a new report from the British American Security Information Council.
Nations Weigh Taking Fissile Material Talks Outside Disarmament Forum
Independent and informal talks are pursued by nations on the fissile material cutoff treaty in attempts to smooth the way for negotiations at the International Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, Switzerland
NATO’s Defense and Deterrence Posture Review: A French Perspective on Nuclear Issues
Paul Zajac reviews the assumptions about the apparent rift between France and Germany over nuclear weapons and NATO, and the extent to which the alliance should play a role in nuclear disarmament. He argues that allies must be careful not to let other initiatives, such as projects on missile defense or aspirations for a world without nuclear weapons, harm alliance unity around nuclear deterrence.
The United States, NATO’s Strategic Concept, and Nuclear Issues
Washington appeared satisfied with the November 2010 Lisbon Summit outcome and new Strategic Concept regarding nuclear weapons and arms control. In this article, Amb. Steven Pifer analyzes the dual tracks of the Deterrence and Defense Posture Review process and development of a U.S. approach to nonstrategic nuclear weapons for possible future negotiations with Russia.