European Diplomats Mount Last-Ditch Effort to Stop U.S. Scrapping INF Treaty
Julian Borger | Guardian
European officials are seeking to act as intermediaries between Russia and the US in the hope of salvaging a cold war-era arms control treaty that Donald Trump has threatened to scrap. However, the diplomats involved are not confident of success in the effort to save the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty. Although they have the support of senior officials in the US defence and state departments, they face opposition from the White House, particularly from the national security adviser, John Bolton.
Kremlin: Russia to Take Measures to Maintain Balance, if U.S. Pulls Out of INF
TASS
Moscow’s response to Washington’s possible exit from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty will be explained by the need to maintain a global strategic balance but Moscow is ready to continue negotiations with the U.S. on the INF Treaty, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday. “As for the imminent response by the Russian Federation to the withdrawal [of the United States] from the INF Treaty, this was stated by the President [of Russia Vladimir Putin] and is related to the fact that the withdrawal from the INF Treaty may disrupt the strategic balance,” Peskov said.
India’s Long-Awaited Nuclear-Armed Submarine Goes on its First Patrol
Economist
When, in early November, INS Arihant surfaced off India’s east coast, its submariners breathed in the claggy air of the Bay of Bengal for the first time in almost three weeks. They may also have breathed a sigh of relief. Although the Indian authorities are understandably cagey about the details, the sub is believed to have carried as many as a dozen nuclear missiles through the Indian Ocean, in all probability around the southern tip of India and into the shallower waters of the Arabian Sea close to Pakistan.
Washington Under Pressure to Ease North Korean Sanctions
Christy Lee | Voice of America
Washington faces mounting pressure from China, Russia and South Korea, as well as humanitarian groups, to ease sanctions on North Korea as the Trump administration’s denuclearization talks with Pyongyang have hit a snag. Washington’s talks with Pyongyang stalled last week when North Korea abruptly canceled a scheduled meeting with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo amid U.S. efforts to maintain sanctions while engaging in diplomatic negotiations with the country.
EU Open to Iran Sanctions after Foiled France, Denmark Plots: Diplomats
Robin Emmott | Reuters
European Union foreign ministers showed cautious support on Monday for possible new economic sanctions on Iran in a shift of policy after accusations of Iranian attack plots in France and Denmark, diplomats said. Denmark and France briefed their EU counterparts at a meeting in Brussels on the alleged plots and ministers agreed to consider targeted sanctions on Iranians in response, although no details or names were discussed, five diplomats told Reuters.
S. Korea-U.S. Working Group on Denuclearization Negotiations Convenes in Washington
Hankyoreh
The first meeting of a South Korea-U.S. working group to discuss general issues related to North Korean nuclear negotiations was held in Washington, DC, on Nov. 20. A South Korean government delegation including Lee Do-hoon, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, will be in the US from Nov. 19 to 21, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) announced. The delegation consists chiefly of MOFA representatives along with other officials from ministries involved in the working group, including division director-level officials in charge of inter-Korean exchange and cooperation at the Ministry of Unification and officials from the Blue House.