Country Resources

Trump and Putin talk Ukraine while strategic arms control remains off the agenda, U.S. allies weigh their nuclear options, the Ban Treaty states meet in New York, and Los Alamos opens environmental impact study for comments.

The moribund process offers the best tool for reviving the international arms control regime.

The UK agreed to cede the disputed Chagos Islands to Mauritius to ensure that the strategically important military base at Diego Garcia remains in UK-U.S. control.

The new government must find a way to grapple with the conflicting UK policy commitments toward deterrence and disarmament.

The decision by Canada and the United Kingdom to ban or otherwise restrict arms transfers to Israel over the Gaza War follows similar decisions by Belgium, Italy and Spain. 

The United Kingdom and the United States said their decision to extend their mutual defense agreement indefinitely is in response to rising threats. 

China assumes the rotating leadership of the P5 process while states negotiate disarmament language for the Summit for the Future outcome document. A survey shows strong swing-state opposition to testing as the United States reviews nuclear requirements and renews a cooperation treaty with the United Kingdom.

Representatives of Canada, France, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union skipped the ceremony in Nagasaki on Aug. 9, recognizing the anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombings, after Israel was disinvited.

The NPT preparatory committee meets in Geneva as states-parties discuss a path forward to the 2026 Review Conference. Kazakhstan announces a nuclear-weapons-free zones workshop. The United States continues with its ICBM modernization program.

With a potential change in government on the horizon, the United Kingdom has an opportunity to rethink its nuclear weapons policy and return to a leadership role.

The Report of the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States suggests that in response to Russia’s nuclear and military behavior and the anticipated growth of China’s strategic nuclear arsenal, the United States must be prepared to add more capability and flexibility to the U.S. strategic deterrent and enhance its missile defense capabilities.

Russia said the deployment of U.S. nuclear weapons in the United Kingdom for the first time in 15 years would escalate tensions.

Deteriorating relations between the major nuclear powers have stymied progress on nuclear arms control and disarmament for more than a decade. As bleak as the situation is, however, reports of the death of nuclear arms control are greatly exaggerated, and last month, the Biden administration outlined a viable path for moving back from the nuclear brink that deserves serious attention and support.

Although the geopolitical rationale for the arrangement is understandable, the parties have failed to come to terms with its core problems. 

Russia terminates New START data exchanges with the United States. Facility for tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus to be completed by July, according to Russia. U.S. lawmakers want more nuclear weapons to counter China.