Proliferation News 11/19/24

Harvard University’s Belfer Center, Carnegie Endowment, Nuclear Threat Initiative Announce New Task Force on Nuclear Proliferation and U.S. National Security

Carnegie Endowment  for International Peace 

Amid increasingly tense geopolitics, growing nuclear threats, and risks posed by rapidly evolving technologies, the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) announce the creation of a new high-level Task Force on Nuclear Proliferation and U.S. National Security.

Putin Lowers the Threshold for Using his Nuclear Arsenal After Biden’s Arms Decision for Ukraine

Associated Press

President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday formally lowered the threshold for Russia’s use of its nuclear weapons, a move that follows U.S. President Joe Biden’s decision to let Ukraine strike targets inside Russian territory with American-supplied longer-range missiles. The new doctrine allows for a potential nuclear response by Moscow even to a conventional attack on Russia by any nation that is supported by a nuclear power.

Israel Destroyed Active Nuclear Weapons Research Facility in Iran, Officials Say

Barak Ravid | Axios

The Israeli attack on Iran in late October destroyed an active top secret nuclear weapons research facility in Parchin, according to three U.S. officials, one current Israeli official and one former Israeli official. Why it matters: The strike — which targeted a site previously reported to be inactive — significantly damaged Iran's effort over the past year to resume nuclear weapons research, Israeli and U.S. officials said.

Biden, Xi Agree that Humans, Not AI, Should Control Nuclear Arms

Jarrett Renshaw and Trevor Hunnicutt | Reuters

U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed on Saturday that human beings and not artificial intelligence should make decisions over the use of nuclear weapons, according to the White House. "The two leaders affirmed the need to maintain human control over the decision to use nuclear weapons," the White House said in a statement. "The two leaders also stressed the need to consider carefully the potential risks and develop AI technology in the military field in a prudent and responsible manner." An official Chinese government summary of the meeting echoed this point.

U.S. Must Be Prepared to Expand Nuclear-Weapons Force, Biden Officials Say

Michael R. Gordon | The Wall Street Journal 

The U.S. needs to be prepared to expand its nuclear force to deter the growing threats from China, Russia and North Korea, say senior Biden administration officials. Decisions on whether to deploy more nuclear weapons are being left to the incoming Trump administration, which has yet to spell out its defense plans…The Biden administration’s policy is codified in its “Nuclear Weapons Employment Planning Guidance” and comes as China is proceeding with a major nuclear buildup, Russia is balking at arms-control talks, and North Korea is increasing its nuclear-weapon arsenal.

North Korean Leader Calls for Expanding his Nuclear Forces in the Face of Alleged US Threats

KIM TONG-HYUNG | Associated Press

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un renewed his call for a “limitless” expansion of his military nuclear program to counter U.S.-led threats in comments reported Monday that were his first direct criticism toward Washington since Donald Trump’s win in the U.S. presidential election. At a conference with army officials on Friday, Kim condemned the United States for updating its nuclear deterrence strategies with South Korea and solidifying three-way military cooperation involving Japan, which he portrayed as an “Asian NATO” that was escalating tensions and instability in the region.