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.
Nuclear posture
NATO Needs to Act on Nuclear Policy
NATO foreign ministers meet, less than six months before the summit in Chicago. They have a full agenda, not least the debates over the management of withdrawal from Afghanistan and discussing lessons from the Libya experience.
The Future of NATO’s Nuclear Weapons
Amb. Rolf Nikel explains Germany's approach to questions surrounding tactical nuclear weapons based in Europe in light of NATO's Strategic Concept, and Deterrence and Defense Posture reviews.
Revising NATO’s Nuclear Posture: The Way Forward
Dr Oliver Meier argues that NATO’s Strategic Concept did not live up to the expectations put forward earlier under U.S. President Barack Obama’s Prague Agenda. Meier proposes four steps that the Alliance should take through the ongoing Deterrence and Defense Posture Review (DDPR) in order to improve its nuclear stance.
Roundtable on NATO’s Nuclear Posture and Burden Sharing Arrangements: an Italian Perspective
BASIC held a roundtable in Rome on June 15, 2011 in cooperation with the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI). The roundtable explored Italian perspectives on the future of NATO\’s nuclear posture and burden sharing. It also looked at Italy\’s position on the current debate about tactical nuclear weapons (TNW) in Europe.
The main points raised at the roundtable were as follows:
NATO deterrence and defense, and divisions over tactical nuclear weapons, June 8-9 Brussels
Officials have increasingly become concerned that disagreements over U.S. tactical nuclear weapons in Europe could seriously harm Alliance unity, as NATO defense ministers prepare to meet this week. Although not the main issue for discussion at the meeting in Brussels on Wednesday and Thursday, tactical nuclear weapons are up for consideration as part of NATO’s ongoing Deterrence and Defense Posture Review (DDPR).
GAO reveals challenges ahead for U.S. commitments to NATO’s nuclear deployments
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has warned that the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and the Department of Defense (DOD) could be in danger of failing to meet B61 Life Extension Program (LEP) goals and leave the United States unable to support its tactical nuclear deployments that are assigned to NATO.
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.