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Nuclear Weapons in Europe, Like Wedding Rings or Euros?

IN THIS ISSUE: Nuclear weapons in Europe, NATO-Russia cooperation on nonproliferation, House approves tough new Iran sanctions, Japan may declare control of reactors, third nuke test 'may allow N.Korea to miniaturize bombs,' IAEA urges UAE to conclude nuclear waste policy.

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Published on December 15, 2011

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In This Issue
Like Wedding Rings or Euros? Nuclear Weapons in Europe
Carnegie Policy Outlook
An Agenda for NATO-Russia Cooperation on Nonproliferation
Carnegie Proliferation Analysis
House Approves Tough New Iran Sanctions
AFP
Japan May Declare Control of Reactors, Over Serious Doubts
New York Times
Third Nuke Test 'May Allow North Korea to Miniaturize Bombs'
Global Security Newswire
IAEA Urges UAE to Conclude Nuclear Waste Policy
Reuters

Like Wedding Rings or Euros? Nuclear Weapons in Europe

George Perkovich | Carnegie Policy Outlook

Anders Fogh Rasmussen

NATO is conducting a Deterrence and Defense Posture Review to be completed prior to the May 2012 NATO summit that President Obama will host in Chicago. Among other things, the review will consider what the role of nuclear weapons should be in NATO's overall military policies and posture.

The good news is that NATO does not now face threats against which it would be necessary or credible to use nuclear weapons, except if Russia or a future nuclear-armed Iran were to threaten the existence of an allied state first. The bad news is that NATO's nuclear weapons are not useful against the threats that are most likely to arise, such as cyberattacks, energy-supply blackmail, or political subversion.

The underappreciated news is that some states believe nuclear weapons are such a safe and protean asset that they will protect against a wide range of threats. This belief encourages leveraging the nuclear deterrent to cover positions that in fact should be backed by real capital in the form of new nonnuclear capabilities and policies. Rather than a wedding ring that reassuringly symbolizes commitment, as defenders of the status quo argue, the NATO arsenal of nuclear bombs may be more like the euro. In that case, NATO states should learn from the euro crisis. While security conditions in Europe remain relatively benign, they should recapitalize their security commitments and clarify their crisis decisionmaking procedures.   Full Article



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An Agenda for NATO-Russia Cooperation on Nonproliferation
Pierre Goldschmidt | Carnegie Proliferation Analysis
The media has a tendency to highlight any possible difference of view between NATO and Russia and to recall the old Cold War saying that, "What is bad for Washington is good for Moscow." This framing is both untrue and counterproductive. In today's world and even more so in the future, Russia and NATO members will have ever more reasons to cooperate on economic and security issues.    Full Article

 
 
Related News
U.S. Concerned Iran on Verge of Nuclear Enrichment at Underground Facility (Bloomberg News)
House Approves Tough New Iran Sanctions
AFP
The Obama administration is concerned Iran is on the verge of being able to enrich uranium at a facility deep underground near the Muslim holy city of Qom, which may strengthen those advocating tougher action to stop Iran's suspected atomic weapons program.     Full Article

 
 
Related News
IAEA to Coordinate Pacific Monitoring of Radionuclides From Fukushima (World Nuclear News)
Japan May Declare Control of Reactors, Over Serious Doubts
Martin Fackler | New York Times
Nine months after the devastating earthquake and tsunami knocked out cooling systems at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, the Tokyo government is expected to declare soon that it has finally regained control of the plant's overheating reactors.     Full Article

Third Nuke Test 'May Allow North Korea to Miniaturize Bombs'
Global Security Newswire
A third nuclear test is likely to give North Korea the capacity to build nuclear warheads compact enough to be fitted to a missile, the Yonhap News Agency quoted a U.S. expert as saying on Wednesday. "If North Korea conducts a third nuclear test, that will be very risky. If another of the North's nuclear tests is successful, I believe that North Korea will succeed in the necessary miniaturization within a few years."     Full Article

IAEA Urges UAE to Conclude Nuclear Waste Policy
Stanley Carvalho | Reuters
The U.N. nuclear watchdog urged the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday to quickly draw up a plan for radioactive waste management as the major oil exporter prepares to build four nuclear reactors. The UAE sits across the Gulf from Iran which is at odds with Western powers over its own nuclear programme. The IAEA suggested in November that Iran atomic activities had military dimensions.     Full Article

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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