China, US, UK, France, and Russia Pledge to Avoid Nuclear War
Brad Lendon and Jessie Yeung | CNN
Five of the world’s largest nuclear powers pledged on Monday to work together toward “a world without nuclear weapons” in a rare statement of unity amid rising East-West tensions. “A nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought,” said the joint statement, which was issued simultaneously by the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom and France. “As nuclear use would have far-reaching consequences, we also affirm that nuclear weapons –for as long as they continue to exist—should serve defensive purposes, deter aggression, and prevent war.” The statement also stressed the importance of preventing conflict between nuclear-weapon states from escalating, describing it as a “foremost responsibility.”
US, Russia to Hold Talks on Arms Control, Ukraine on January 10
France 24
The United States and Russia will hold much-anticipated talks in January, a White House official told AFP Monday, with the rivals due to negotiate on nuclear arms control and mounting tensions over Ukraine. “The United States looks forward to engaging with Russia,” a spokesperson for the National Security Council said, on condition of anonymity. “When we sit down to talk, Russia can put its concerns on the table and we will put our concerns on the table with Russia’s activities as well.” Bilateral talks are scheduled for January 10, the spokesperson said.
Iran Sends Rocket Into Space Amid Faltering Nuclear Talks
Sune Engel Rasmussen and Aresu Eqbali | Wall Street Journal
Iran launched a rocket into space carrying what officials on Thursday said were three research devices, drawing attention to Tehran’s missile ambitions amid faltering international negotiations over its nuclear program. The rocket, called the Simorgh, is designed to carry satellites; it was sent up about 290 miles, which an Iranian Defense Ministry spokesman told state television was a record for this type of rocket. The ministry didn’t say when the launch was conducted or whether it had succeeded in putting the devices into orbit. It didn’t give any details about the devices.
Angst Over China, Russia Lessens Chance of US Nuke Changes
Robert Burns | Associated Press
Joe Biden’s arrival in the White House nearly a year ago seemed to herald a historic shift toward less U.S. reliance on nuclear weapons and possibly a shrinking of their numbers. Even an American “no first use” pledge — a promise to never again be the first to use a nuclear weapon — seemed possible. Then China happened — revelations about its expanding nuclear force and talk of potential war with Taiwan. And then Russia happened — signs that it might be preparing to invade Ukraine. Now, major shifts in U.S. nuclear weapons policy seem much less likely, and while Biden may insist on certain adjustments, momentum toward a historic departure from the Trump administration’s policy appears to have stalled.
S.Korea’s Ruling Party Presidential Candidate Pushes for Nuclear-Powered Submarines
Hyonhee Shin and Jack Kim | Reuters
South Korea’s ruling party presidential candidate said he will seek U.S. support to build nuclear-powered submarines to better counter threats from North Korea and proactively seek to reopen stalled denuclearisation talks between Pyongyang and Washington. In an interview with Reuters and two other media outlets, Lee Jae-myung also pledged to put aside “strategic ambiguity” in the face of intensifying Sino-U.S rivalry, vowing pragmatic diplomacy would avoid South Korea being forced to choose between the two countries.
Virus Delays UN Nuclear Treaty Meeting, Possibly til August
Jennifer Peltz | Associated Press
A coronavirus surge has upended plans to hold a major nuclear treaty conference at the United Nations, with participants agreeing Thursday to postpone the meeting just days before its scheduled start. After nearly two years of pandemic delays, delegations from around the world had been scheduled due to converge on U.N. headquarters Tuesday to take stock of the 1970 Non-Proliferation Treaty, a pillar of nuclear arms control. But organizers are now penciling in an Aug. 1 start date for the already long-delayed conference, according to an email Thursday from the U.N. disarmament office to entities involved.