I have no doubt that the latest opinion poll published this evening by the Guardian reflects the significant media coverage that Trident replacement has seen recently, as well as the cracking of the ranks at the very top of all three principal parties around replacement. This is very encouraging for those looking for public interest in the recent discussions over moves towards a world free of nuclear weapons:
Nuclear posture
START follow-on: Reductions – not radical optimists – can focus on limits
In conjunction with the Obama-Medvedev Summit in Moscow today, the United States and Russia reached a Joint Understanding (White House press release) for establishing new limitations on the number of strategic nuclear warheads and delivery vehicles under the START Follow-on Treaty.
START follow-on negotiations: Russians focus on delivery vehicles
An announcement on the US/Russian negotiations is expected at July's summit between Obama and Medvedev.
Political developments around nuclear weapons and the “butterfly effect”
During the past month or two, getting to zero has seemed to resemble the early phase of the butterfly effect of Chaos Theory. The thinking goes as follows: the movement of air caused by a butterfly flapping his wings could contribute to the formation of a hurricane, or other major weather event. Without that one extra factor of the flapping of the butterfly's wings, the event may not have occurred. Of course, the flapping of a butterfly's wings alone cannot cause a weather event.
Obama’s nuclear diplomacy
Barack Obama has called for a world free of nuclear weapons and has committed to reducing their number and salience during his administration. His continuing engagement with allies and Russia on nuclear arms control, and the results of posture reviews back home, could result in significant progress.
NATO’s nuclear posture in the context of the Strategic Concept review
In partnership with the New America Foundation (NAF), BASIC hosted a breakfast discussion on NATO\’s nuclear posture within the context of the Strategic Concept review.
The meeting was held at the Cosmos Club in Washington, DC with around 30 participants – including representatives from NATO-member embassies and U.S. government offices.
Congressional Commission on the US Strategic Posture releases interim report
The Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States has released an interim report. The 12-page report sets out initial findings, focusing on “stockpile stewardship” and Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW) issues (controversies which instigated the Commission's formation).
Bob Gates looks for continuity
If a forthcoming Foreign Affairs article, authored by the outgoing/incoming Secretary of State for Defense is anything to go by, it will be business as usual at the Pentagon… or Obama and his White House staff can look forward to a rocky relationship with his Defense Secretary.