BASIC and the Federation of American Scientists hosted a joint discussion on the state of the UK and European nuclear weapons debates, and the importance of this in a global context.
Strategic Stability
Entire Nuclear Arms Industry is ‘Based Upon Fear’
Major superpowers continue to modernize their nuclear weapons because there is an entire industry fueled by fear that helps to justify the development of nukes, BASIC’s Paul Ingram told Radio Sputnik in an interview on 18 November 2015.
Listen to the full clip on Radio Sputnik’s website:http://sputniknews.com/us/20151118/1030352634/nuclear-arms-race-fear.html
Tactical Nuclear Weapons, NATO and Deterrence
Nuclear sharing arrangements and the active deployment of US theatre nuclear weapons (TNW) in Europe under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are viewed as critical components of its deterrence posture. Previously, this nuclear posture was aimed at the former Soviet Union (USSR) and Warsaw Pact alliance during the Cold War. Since the end of the Cold War and the absorption of former Warsaw Pact states into NATOthe official justification for those systems remaining is not connected to any specified enemy.
Hair Trigger Alert
Russian aircraft make intrusions into the air space of the Baltic states and skirt the air space of Britain. Russian bombers attack targets in Syria, and America is advised to keep its aircraft out of the way. Russia may have designs on the Baltic States, and is certainly playing a role in Syria. Possibilities arise of a clash that could lead to escalation.
Labour Needs a Global Nuclear Disarmament Policy
Once again Trident emerges as a key flag issue that establishes where candidates for the Labour leadership election stand. Andy Burnham has perhaps the most difficult task, being deeply sceptical about nuclear weapons personally but claiming that current international instability, and particularly Russian threats to European security, means it is not now the time for Britain to consider abandoning the weapons.
A breakthrough for Iranian fanatics
Iranian radicals who see themselves on the front line against Zionism and the Great Satan are on tenterhooks this summer. Iran, a weak middle-power country often itself isolated from the rest of the world, could succeed in dealing a huge blow to the credibility of the most powerful state on the planet, and with it the positive values it represents.
Linking nuclear weapons and climate change
As part of BASIC\’s Next Generation Project, BASIC Executive Director Paul Ingram and Greenpeace campaigner Louise Edge led a discussion exploring the links between the nuclear weapons debate and the climate change debate, and the political and public perceptions of both
US Must Avoid ‘Quick Fixes’ in Gulf Security
This week on May 13-14, President Obama will be meeting with the heads of state or their deputies from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries at the White House and Camp David, in meetings that could have important lasting impacts on US relations throughout the region, the prospects for regional security and for nuclear non-proliferation.