Critiquing the State Department's Nuclear Posture Clarification
George Perkovich | Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
The U.S. State Department’s Office of the Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security on April 24, 2020, published online a paper entitled “Strengthening Deterrence and Reducing Nuclear Risks: The Supplemental Low-Yield U.S. Submarine-Launched Warhead.” Like previous writings by Ford, this one will engender intense debate among nuclear policy aficionados in the United States and around the world. Carnegie Vice President for Studies and Ken Olivier and Angela Nomellini Chair George Perkovich, as before, welcomes the insights that the State Department publication provides into U.S. policy and offers the following critique of the paper in hopes of inviting others to join this discussion.
SPD Leadership Reignites German Debate on US Nuclear Weapons
Philip Grüll and Alexandra Brzozowski | Euractiv
Germany should “exclude the stationing of US nuclear weapons in the future,” Rolf Mützenich, the leader of the Social Democrats (SPD) in the Bundestag, has demanded. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has hit back, but other SPD politicians intend to question Germany’s role in NATO’s nuclear strategy. “Nuclear weapons on German territory do not heighten our security, just the opposite,” Mützenich, said in an interview with EURACTIV’s media partner Der Tagesspiegel on Sunday (3 May). But the German centre left’s move to reopen an old debate about whether to remain under Washington’s protective nuclear umbrella, prompted a backlash from Christian Democrat ministers, the dominant partner in the governing coalition.
Nuclear Weapons Treaty's Chief Negotiator Fears Coronavirus Crisis Could Mean End of Russia-US Arms Control Deal
James Walker | Newsweek
The chief negotiator of the New START treaty fears the nuclear arms control deal with Russia could end up “simply going away” as attention is diverted to handling the novel coronavirus pandemic. Former Under Secretary of State for Arms Control Rose Gottemoeller told Newsweek that she was “concerned” about the deal lapsing if it is not paid more attention before it expires early next year. She also argued that it was “not possible” to get China signed up to the treaty before February, despite the reported wishes of the Trump administration. The ex-NATO deputy secretary-general added that it was important to keep New START's caps on U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals to prevent an “arms race” between the countries.
Iran Atomic Inspections Continued at a Record Pace Last Year
Jonathan Tirone | Bloomberg
Iran’s nuclear program received record scrutiny last year from international monitors who triggered snap inspections in the Islamic Republic. The International Atomic Energy Agency’s 2019 Safeguards Implementation Report shows that monitors continued receiving wide access to Iranian nuclear sites even as new questions arose over the completeness of the country’s declared atomic stockpile, according to the restricted document seen by Bloomberg. The IAEA’s roster of 269 monitors and analysts who focus on Iran triggered a record number of inspections. There were 1,103 person-days spent on the ground in Iran, combing through sites where Iran enriches uranium and generates nuclear power.
US Must Move Ahead With Work on Nukes, Says Nuclear Security Boss
Susan Montoya Bryan | AP
A top nuclear security official says the U.S. must move ahead with plans to ramp up production of key components for the nation’s nuclear arsenal despite the challenges presented by the coronavirus. Federal officials have set a deadline of 2030 for increased production of the plutonium cores used in nuclear weapons. National Nuclear Security Administrator Lisa Gordon-Hagerty said in recent letter to U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., that her agency has worked with the contractor that manages Los Alamos on precautions to protect employees from the virus while moving ahead with defense work. Gordon-Hagerty didn’t specify what steps were taken to safeguard workers.
Trump's Push to Use Global Aid for Nuclear Projects Alarms Development Groups
Rebecca Beitsch | Hill
A new effort by the Trump administration to bolster the nuclear industry is eyeing a surprising source of financing — a fund designed to fight poverty in developing countries. In a list of official recommendations to President Trump last month, the Nuclear Fuels Working Group argued the U.S. needs to sell nuclear power technology abroad and battle the influence of countries like China and Russia that have become dominant suppliers. One way to do that, the group said, is to lift restrictions at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to let the agency fund nuclear projects alongside other development work. But development groups worry that tapping the DFC to greenlight nuclear projects will do more to promote American interests than alleviate poverty.