The deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus would increase nuclear risks and undermine key nonproliferation norms, but it would not alter the strategic balance in Europe. For Russia, sharing nuclear weapons with Belarus might well backfire politically. NATO countries should therefore resist the impulse to up the nuclear ante.
Thanks to the INF Treaty, Russian forces attacking Ukraine have not been able to use ground-to-ground ballistic and cruise missiles of ranges from 500-5,500 km, which could have devastated centres in Western Ukraine. Dan Plesch writes that the process that produced the INF Treaty provides important guidance for a renaissance in disarmament in the present century and calls on civil society to seek a global zero on missiles.
The Iran Project and the ELN release the findings of a major three-year study on missiles in the Middle East. They find that fresh thinking is needed to reduce the risks attributed to the growing proliferation and development of these weapons.
ELN Policy Fellow Julia Berghofer speaks at Friedrich Ebert Stiftung roundtable on “Arms Control Post-Trump: A Revival of International Initiatives?”
The proliferation of cruise missiles has progressed significantly and today dozens of states are in possession of advanced cruise-missile capabilities. Fabian Hoffmann looks at the strategic implications of this for Europe and suggests ways to counter the negative consequences of cruise missile proliferation.
The incoming US administration has said they will focus first on restoring the Iran nuclear deal before discussing Iran’s ballistic missiles during follow-on talks. What could realistically be achieved?