Remembering Michael Krepon
Toby Dalton, George Perkovich, and James M. Acton | Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
In March 2015, the Carnegie Endowment awarded Michael Krepon the Thérèse Delpech Memorial Award for exceptional service to the nuclear policy community. The award commendation cites Michael’s “tireless efforts and lasting achievements” to make the world a safer place—efforts that Michael described in his acceptance remarks as his “meaningful work.” He exhorted the nuclear policy community to continue its pursuit through the inevitable challenges to come. Michael passed away on July 16 after a fifteen-year battle with cancer. Michael was a dear friend and colleague, a mentor, a traveling companion, and an example to which we aspire.
With Russia's War in Ukraine, Japan Renews Focus on Nuclear Deterrence
Reito Kaneko | Japan Today
Nuclear deterrence is taking center stage in Japan's security policy after Russia's threat to use nuclear weapons in its war against Ukraine, with Tokyo re-emphasizing the centrality of the U.S. nuclear umbrella amid regional tensions heightened by China's muscle flexing. But Japan will still face a delicate juggling act since, as the only country to have experienced the horrors of a nuclear attack, it remains committed to leading discussions on bringing about a world without nuclear weapons and will continue to face calls from survivors of the 1945 atomic bombings to do more to bring that about.
Nuclear Power Plants Are Struggling to Stay Cool
Gregory Barber | Wired
From its humble start as a glacial trickle in the Swiss Alps, the Rhône River quickly transforms into one of the world’s most industrialized waterways. As it winds through the south of France toward the Mediterranean Sea, its chilly water is drawn into boilers, sucked through pipes as coolant, deviated for agriculture. Among its biggest customers is a battalion of nuclear reactors. Since the 1970s, the river and its tributaries have helped generate about a quarter of France’s atomic energy.
Russia’s Nuclear Giant Starts Building of Egypt’s First Reactors
Mirette Magdy | Bloomberg
Russia’s state-controlled Rosatom began construction of Egypt’s first nuclear power plant as the North African nation balances its ties with the Kremlin and western allies who have sanctioned Moscow over its war in Ukraine.
NATO’s New Strategic Concept: What it is and Why it Matters
Ellen Swicord | Nuclear Threat Initiative
Late last month, heads of state and government from the 30 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member countries gathered in Madrid, Spain for the 2022 NATO Summit. At the summit, NATO leaders endorsed a new Strategic Concept – the first since 2010. In the context of rising global tensions and the return of war to Europe, the 2022 Strategic Concept aims to affirm the strength and unity of NATO, bolster deterrence, and assert the alliance’s new and enduring objectives.
Beijing Warns AUKUS Submarine Project Sets a 'Dangerous Precedent' and Threatens Non-Proliferation
Stephen Dziedzic | ABC News
China's government is ramping up its campaign against Australia's push to build nuclear-powered submarines with the United States and the United Kingdom, publishing a new report which declares the project is a grave risk to non-proliferation and warns that Australia may be intent on developing nuclear weapons.