The Debate Over Indian Nuclear Strategy is Heating Up
Sameer Lalwani and Hannah Haegeland | War on the Rocks
Most debates on South Asian security strategy tend to not attract much attention amongst U.S. policymakers except during the occasional crisis. Warnings about arms racing, belligerence, and nuclear risks between India and Pakistan have become so commonplace that they elicit yawns or eye rolls. Some aspects of the rivalry (namely the border ceremony) have even been parodied in a sitcom. It is noteworthy then that this past weekend The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal both felt compelled to write about potential changes in India’s nuclear strategy and doctrine.
Little Progress Reining in North Korea, U.S. Commander Says Before Trump-Xi Summit
Tim Kelly and Ju-min Park | Reuters
Diplomatic and economic measures taken to rein in North Korea's missile program have not had the desired effect, a senior U.S. military commander said on Thursday after the North's latest test triggered a flurry of calls among world leaders. U.S President Donald Trump led calls with leaders and senior officials from Japan and South Korea on Thursday to discuss the latest provocation from Pyongyang, hours before Trump begins a much-anticipated summit with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
A Chinese-Owned Westinghouse? Washington is Worried
Anya Litvak l Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"There are a lot of reasons why a Japanese takeover of Westinghouse doesn’t raise people’s temperatures the way that a Chinese takeover of Westinghouse would,” said Mark Hibbs, senior fellow at the nuclear policy program of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, who put the chances of a Chinese entity taking over Westinghouse at “virtually nil.” Westinghouse’s roots and breadth across the globe — its designs are the backbone of half of the world’s 430 reactors and it provides fuel and maintenance services to many of them — means that the reliability and security of a huge amount of infrastructure is at stake in the deal, Mr. Hibbs said.
Stratcom Issues Guidance on Drone Threats
Bill Gertz | Washington Times
The commander of the Strategic Command voiced concerns this week that terrorists could use drone aircraft to attack U.S. nuclear facilities. Air Force Gen. John E. Hyten, Stratcom chief, told a Senate hearing that he recently issued new policy guidance on how security personnel at nuclear bases should respond to unauthorized intrusions by remotely piloted drones. Gen. Hyten said recent incidents of unauthorized intrusions by drones at Navy and Air Force facilities were “incidental” overflights and not deliberate surveillance or other nefarious activity.
China, Thailand Agree to Nuclear Energy Cooperation
World Nuclear News
China and Thailand have a signed an agreement to cooperate in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The agreement was signed in Beijing on 29 March by Nur Bekri, director of China's National Energy Administration (NEA), and Thai energy minister Anantaporn Kanchanarat.
Russia Launches Most Powerful Nuclear Attack Submarine Yet
Loulla-Mae Eleftheriou-Smith | Independent
Russia has unveiled its army’s most powerful submarine to date, capable of carrying hundreds of torpedoes and reaching speeds of up to 31 knots. The new Yasen-class nuclear powered attack submarine, called the Kazan, is armed with torpedoes and long-range Kalibr cruise missiles. The ship was launched at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk, northern Russia.