Saudi Arabia May Acquire Nuclear Capable Dong Feng Ballistic Missiles From China
IN THIS ISSUE: Saudi Arabia may acquire Dong Feng ballistic missiles from China, NATO-Russia relations and missile defense, Iran says sanctions won't change nuclear program, S. Korea, India bolster nuke ties, Pentagon more than doubles cost estimate for B61, plan for Trident if UK breaks up.
Saudi Arabia May Acquire Nuclear Capable Dong Feng Ballistic Missiles From China Saudi Defence
Seen as a response to Iran's march towards the production of nuclear weapons, one of its major rivals in the region, the Saudi Arabia is reported to be in talks with the Chinese authorities, for the purchase of nuclear capable missiles.
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Ioanna-Nikoletta Zyga | Carnegie Moscow Center Working Paper
More than a year and a half after the Lisbon summit, the NATO-Russia negotiations for cooperation on missile defense have yet to produce a serious breakthrough. The best way to move forward would be to implement confidence-building measures (CBM) that will allow for greater transparency regarding the system's capabilities and contribute to strengthening mutual relations. Full Article
Jeremy Herb | Hill
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Wednesday that economic sanctions against Iran will not stop the country's nuclear program. Speaking on state TV, Khamenei said that the sanctions from the United States and European Union will only give Iran greater confidence to pursue its nuclear ambitions. Full Article
J. Berkshire Miller | Diplomat
China has reason to worry about a growing Korea-India partnership, but continues to make the shrewd calculation that this is a pact built upon economics and – at least currently – lacks strategic depth. While the US will support increased Indo-Korean ties, not even Washington can change the geographic realities of the Sino-ROK-Indo triangle. Full Article
Defense News
According to a new estimate from the Pentagon, the life-extension program for the B61 nuclear bomb will now cost roughly $10 billion, two-and-a-half times the original cost proposed. Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-Calif., who chairs the Senate Appropriations energy and water development subcommittee, said she was briefed on the bomb’s new estimate July 23. Full Article
Michael Settle | Herald Scotland
The lack of a contingency plan for Britain's Trident nuclear arsenal if Scotland votes for independence is causing alarm within the UK Government, with one senior source decrying the gap in forward planning as nonsensical. The Coalition source also told The Herald the cost of relocating the nuclear deterrent to England would cost as much as the plan to replace it with a new generation of submarines, some £25 billion. Full Article
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