The Ukraine War and Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
By Ramesh Jaura
BERLIN 13 July 2023 (IDN) — Ahead of first session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) from 31 July to 11 August 2023 in Vienna, the Global Network to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons, Abolition 2000 has warned of increasing risks of nuclear war by accident, miscalculation, crisis escalation and/or intent.
AI ChatBot Warns of Nuclear Risks in a Militant Political Climate
By Thalif Deen
UNITED NATIONS 9 July 2023 (IDN) — The AI Chatbot GPT—described as a computer-generated program that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to understand questions and automate responses—was reportedly downloaded more than one million times within its first five days last month, according to OpenAI, ChatGPT’s maker.
And although criticized for its inability to distinguish between fact and fiction, Chatbot’s access to basic knowledge is a steady source of information for writers, journalists, academics and other professionals. (P11) FRENCH | JAPANESE | KOREAN
Brazil and Indonesia Likely to Ratify TPNW Soon
GENEVA 7 July 2023 (ICAN) — Two of the largest countries in the world by population, Brazil and Indonesia, will soon ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapon (TPNW), according to their respective governments. Both countries were among the first to sign the landmark United Nations accord in 2017, and their ratification processes are now nearing completion. Their inclusion among the treaty’s states parties will be an important boost to the new disarmament regime.
US Warned Against Transfer of Cluster Munitions to Ukraine
By J C Suresh
TORONTO | WASHINGTON DC 6 July 2023 (IDN) — President Biden is "under steady pressure from Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky" to transfer banned cluster munitions, arguing that the munitions were "the best way to kill Russians who are dug into trenches and blocking Ukraine’s counteroffensive", reports New York Times.
If he decides to give, the US will be violating the Convention on Cluster Munitions, warns the independent, nongovernmental Arms Control Association (ACA).
Tactical Nuclear Arms in Belarus "a Disturbing Development"
By Thalif Deen
UNITED NATIONS 5 July 2023 (IDN) — Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claim that he has moved his first batch of nuclear tactical weapons into Belarus last month, has led to widespread speculation as to its implications and consequences. But how credible is this claim? Or is this the continued nuclear saber-rattling by Putin? (P10) HINDI | JAPANESE | RUSSIAN
Will Israeli-Saudi Rapprochement be Linked to an Eventual Nuclear Deal?
By Thalif Deen
UNITED NATIONS, 29 June 2023 (IDN) — As geopolitics in the militarily-volatile Middle East are undergoing radical changes, including a rapprochement between two former bitter enemies, Iran and Saudi Arabia, the United States is trying to broker a deal described as ground-breaking: diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
But how realistic is this?
A Viable Path for Moving Back to Nuclear Arms Control
By Daryl G. Kimball
The writer is the Executive Director of the Arms Control Association (ACA). The following text was published in the organization’s monthly journal, Arms Control Today.
WASHINGTON, D.C., 28 June 2023 (IDN) — Deteriorating relations between the major nuclear powers have stymied progress on nuclear arms control and disarmament for more than a decade. Russia’s war against Ukraine and its brazen threats of nuclear weapons use have further heightened the risk of nuclear conflict and unconstrained nuclear competition in ways unseen since the darkest days of the Cold War.
Russia Willing to Discuss Arms Control Proposal with the US
By Shannon Bugos
The author is senior policy analyst at the Arms Control Association (ACA). The following text was published in their Nuclear Disarmament Monitor newsletter of 22 June 2023.
WASHINGTON, DC, 24 June 2023 (IDN) — Russia expressed a willingness to consider the proposal by U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in June to engage in a bilateral dialogue on nuclear risk reduction and arms control "without preconditions."
The Madness of Missiles, An Ode to Daniel Ellsberg
By Jonathan Power*
LUND, Sweden, 20 June 2023 (IDN) — The nuclear weapon missile business is contradictory, full of missteps, highly dangerous and prepared in its madness (Mutually Assured Destruction, aka MAD, they used to call it in Cold War days) to plunge the world into a nuclear war that could reduce much if not most of the world to dust.
Are Nuclear Talks with Iran Underway Again?
By Kelsey Davenport
The author is Director for Nonproliferation Policy at the Arms Control Association (ACA). The following text was published in their P4+1 and Iran Nuclear Deal Alert news digest for June 2023.
WASHINGTON, DC, 15 June 2023 (IDN) — Recent comments from U.S. and Iranian officials suggest that the space for negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program may be opening back up after talks broke down in August, but the two sides denied recent reports that an interim nuclear deal is on the table.
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