Edition

Weapons of Mass Destruction: What Will Be New in the 2022 NATO Strategic Concept?

IN THIS ISSUE: Weapons of Mass Destruction: What Will Be New in the 2022 NATO Strategic Concept?, Missile Proliferation in the Indo-Pacific: Drivers and Consequences, Russia to Provide Nuclear-Capable Missiles and Fighter Jets to Belarus, Russia to Bolster Border With Nuclear Weapons, Missiles if Sweden, Finland Join NATO, U.S., Iran Gather for Indirect Talks on Nuclear-Deal Revival, Eye on AUKUS

Published on June 28, 2022

Weapons of Mass Destruction: What Will Be New in the 2022 NATO Strategic Concept?

Rose Gottemoeller | Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

This week’s NATO Summit in Madrid will launch a new Strategic Concept, NATO’s statement of its strategic goals and objectives, its purpose in life. With Russia threatening to use weapons of mass destruction, NATO’s approach to deterring chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear attacks will be in the global spotlight. Will NATO have something new to say on deterrence, or stick to the past?

Missile Proliferation in the Indo-Pacific: Drivers and Consequences

Thomas Santos and Ankit Panda | National Bureau of Asian Research

Almost universally, policymakers in the Indo-Pacific—particularly in East Asia—perceive a worsening security environment. This is true of U.S. allies, like South Korea, Japan, and Australia, as well as U.S. adversaries, like China and North Korea. Military spending in Asia has risen considerably over the last two decades and missiles—particularly precise, conventional, or dual-capable missiles—are seen as offering an important set of capabilities. There is no universal military rationale for why countries see value in missile capabilities. . . . Where decision-makers in these countries are aligned is in their perception that missiles can contribute to general deterrence in peacetime and deliver significant strategic effects in wartime, while remaining more cost-effective and survivable than other long-range strike capabilities, such as fighter aircraft or bombers.

Russia to Provide Nuclear-Capable Missiles and Fighter Jets to Belarus

Jaroslaw Adamowski | Defense News

Russia will provide nuclear-capable Iskander-M missiles to Belarus and upgrade the country’s fighter jets to allow them to carry tactical atomic weapons, President Vladimir Putin said over the weekend. A “decision was made in our country: Within the next several months, we will transfer to Belarus the Iskander-M tactical missile systems, which are known to use both ballistic and cruise missiles, both conventional and nuclear,” Putin said on June 25 following a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko.

Russia to Bolster Border With Nuclear Weapons, Missiles if Sweden, Finland Join NATO

Ann M. Simmons | Wall Street Journal

Russia threatened to station ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons on its border if Sweden and Finland are allowed to join NATO, and warned that Ukrainian membership of the military alliance could trigger World War III. Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, said Moscow didn’t envision any threat from Sweden and Finland as potential North Atlantic Treaty Organization members because past relations with these countries had been “quite respectful and mutually well meaning,” but that Russia would still need to be ready for any retaliatory action.

U.S., Iran Gather for Indirect Talks on Nuclear-Deal Revival

Laurence Norman and Benoit Faucon | Wall Street Journal

Efforts to revive the Iranian 2015 nuclear agreement were set to resume on Tuesday in Qatar’s capital, with U.S. and Iranian officials playing down expectations of a quick breakthrough that would open the way to a restored deal. The talks, which will be mediated by European Union diplomats since Iran refuses to meet directly with the U.S., are the first since negotiations broke down in mid-March. The aim is to agree steps Washington and Tehran would need to take to return into compliance with the nuclear deal, which lifted most international sanctions on Iran in exchange for tight but temporary restrictions on Iran’s nuclear work.

Eye on AUKUS & China, Australia Cabinet Extends Terms for Defence Force Chief, Others

Colin Clark | Breaking Defense

Newly-minted Australian defense minister Richard Marles today announced a striking — though not unprecedented — extension of the terms of the senior military leadership, including the chief of defence force, Gen. Angus Campbell. . . . Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s cabinet, which must approve senior military appointments, also decided to keep the chief of Joint Operations, Lt. Gen. Greg Bilton, for two more years. This unique job puts one person in charge of all of Australia’s warfighting, operations and exercises. Russia’s ongoing war of invasion in Ukraine, combined with China’s increasingly aggressive behavior, certainly factored into the decision. But perhaps the single concentrated point of focus is ensuring AUKUS — both the nuclear attack submarines and the other technology efforts — doesn’t flag.

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