How to Manage the Risks and Requirements of U.S.-Australia Force Posture Cooperation
ASHLEY TOWNSHEND | Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Escalation issues will be even thornier and more difficult to manage when it comes to conventional-nuclear integration. Against a backdrop of growing strains on the United States’ extended nuclear deterrence commitments, Australia will likely become more closely blended with the U.S. nuclear enterprise. In fact, the Joe Biden administration’s 2022 Nuclear Posture Review mentioned Australia for the very first time, signaling the growing salience in U.S. strategic thinking of Australia’s roles and responsibilities in nuclear deterrence. Crucially, the Nuclear Posture Review’s reference to “leverag[ing] ally and partner non-nuclear capabilities that can support the nuclear deterrence mission” appeared to capture the logic of what is taking place with Bomber Task Force rotations, the joint facilities at Pine Gap and North West Cape, and the development of SRF-West.
Russia’s Withdrawal From the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Is an Own Goal
Maxim Starchak | Carnegie Politika
Russia is revoking its ratification of one of the most consequential international agreements for global security: the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). Russian President Vladimir Putin claims that the move is being taken to reestablish strategic parity with the United States, which never ratified it, despite signing it back in 1996. In reality, the negative fallout may eclipse anything that Moscow stands to gain.
South Korea, Japan, U.S. Hold First-ever Joint Aerial Exercise
Nikkei Asia
The South Korean air force said it, the United States and Japan held a trilateral aerial exercise for the first time on Sunday near the Korean Peninsula. The drill was part of their efforts to enhance defense cooperation amid North Korea's growing missile and nuclear threats. South Korean military sources said this was the first such exercise conducted by the three countries, while they have held bilateral ones before. The latest exercise involved fighters from the South Korean Air Force, the U.S. Air Force and Japan's Air Self-Defense Force escorting a U.S. B-52 strategic bomber, which landed at a South Korean air base on Tuesday.
Pakistan Test-fires Ababeel Nuclear Missile
Usman Ansari | Defense News
Pakistan has test-fired an Ababeel missile capable of carrying multiple warheads that can attack different targets. Pakistan last tested the multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles-capable weapon on Jan. 24, 2017.The military’s media branch, Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan, stated Wednesday’s test was meant to revalidate “various design, technical parameters, and performance evaluation of different sub-systems” and was “aimed at strengthening deterrence and enhancing strategic stability in the region.”
U.S. Plan to Put Weapons-Grade Uranium in a Civilian Reactor Is Dangerous and Unnecessary
Alan J. Kuperman | Scientific American
The Biden administration intends to violate this nonproliferation policy by supplying over 600 kilograms of weapons-grade uranium—enough for dozens of nuclear weapons—to a privately owned experimental research reactor that would be largely funded by the U.S. government. If the project proceeds, other countries will insist on violating the policy too, refusing to accept a double standard. Whether they import HEU from the United States, purchase it from Russia or build their own enrichment plants, the risks of nuclear proliferation and terrorism will grow again.
NNSA Conducts Experiment to Improve U.S. Ability to Detect Foreign Nuclear Explosions
NNSA
Earlier today, a team led by NNSA conducted a subsurface chemical explosion at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) to improve the United States’ ability to detect low-yield nuclear explosions around the world. “These experiments advance our efforts to develop new technology in support of U.S. nuclear nonproliferation goals,” said Corey Hinderstein, NNSA’s Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation. “They will help reduce global nuclear threats by improving the detection of underground nuclear explosive tests.”