Nuclear Nonproliferation

During the Cold War, policy makers and scholars worried that nuclear weapons would proliferate widely—yet, after all this time, there remain relatively few nuclear powers. Today, the nonproliferation regime faces challenges from unrecognized nuclear states like North Korea and other rogue regimes like Iran. The international community must continue to limit the spread of nuclear weapons, while the United States works to assure nuclear-proliferation compliant allies of the integrity of the US nuclear umbrella.

Content

New Atlanticist

Oct 22, 2012

The Five Most Urgent National Security Issues for the Next President

By Kurt Volker

President Obama and Mitt Romney will battle over foreign policy in tonight’s third and final presidential debate. No matter who wins the presidential election November 6, Mr. Romney or Mr. Obama will have to confront five urgent national security issues in the first weeks of his term.

Economy & Business Elections

New Atlanticist

Sep 25, 2012

Bipartisan Insanity on the Iran Question

By James Joyner

In the midst of a boilerplate speech to the UN General Assembly on the virtues of democracy and freedom, President Obama tossed in some rhetoric on Iran that’s either empty or dangerous. Neither option is a good one.

Iran Nuclear Nonproliferation

New Atlanticist

Sep 21, 2012

Russian Military Reform: Not Quite There Yet

By Jakub Kulhanek

With the last year defense budget of $72 billion, Russia has overtaken Britain and France to become the world’s third-largest defense spender. The Russian armed forces are in the midst of wide ranging transformation whilst acquiring some state-of-the-art weapons, including French-built Mistral amphibious assault ships.

Nuclear Nonproliferation Russia

New Atlanticist

Sep 18, 2012

US-Mideast Policy Is Isolating America, Not Iran

By Sarwar Kashmeri

Two thirds of the U.N.’s countries recently signed a communique expressing support for Iran’s nuclear energy program and rejecting, what they termed, the United States’ unilateral sanctions against the Islamic Republic. A flashing red light that signals the American policy aimed at isolating Iran in order to curb its nuclear ambitions appears instead to have […]

International Organizations Iran

New Atlanticist

Jun 27, 2012

US Hardens Stance In Iran Nuclear Talks

By Laura Rozen and Barbara Slavin

Iran came to talks in Moscow last week (June 18-19) prepared to discuss stopping enriching uranium to 20% but refused two other conditions that could have led to a partial agreement in the nuclear standoff. Briefings by diplomats whose countries took part in the talks portrayed the meetings as a “dialogue of the deaf,” with […]

Iran Nuclear Nonproliferation

New Atlanticist

Jun 1, 2012

Stuxnets are Not in the US National Interest: An Arsonist Calling for Better Fire Codes

By Jason Healey

The United States government has apparently struck a blow against the Iranian nuclear enrichment capability by using Stuxnet to disable centrifuges.   While this cyber weapon destroyed centrifuges and seized up the enrichment process, the cost in American cyber power ultimately will not have been worth these limited gains.

Cybersecurity Iran

New Atlanticist

May 30, 2012

Expert Offers Calming Words on Iran Nuclear Program

By Barbara Slavin

In the wake of last week’s nuclear talks in Baghdad, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Tuesday blasted the process as a waste of time that is allowing Iran to get closer to nuclear weapons.

Iran Nuclear Nonproliferation

Event Recap

May 14, 2012

The Next Step for Arms Control: A Nuclear Control Regime

By Jason Harmala

On May 14, 2012, the Atlantic Council hosted a roundtable with Richard Burt and Jan Lodal to discuss proposals put forward in their recent joint paper ‘The Next Step for Arms Control: A Nuclear Control Regime.’

Nuclear Nonproliferation Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

May 2, 2012

Could Iran Nuclear Talks Founder over Sanctions Relief?

By Laura Rozen and Barbara Slavin

As Iran ponders whether to accept curbs on its nuclear program, it worries less about the possibility of foreign military attack than about the relentless onslaught of economic sanctions that are squeezing its oil-based economy. US and European officials have said that only tangible progress in the talks due to resume in Baghdad May 23 […]

Iran Nuclear Nonproliferation

New Atlanticist

May 1, 2012

The Third (Iranian) Way

By Amos Yadlin and Yoel Guzansky

Most analysis of the Iranian nuclear program deals with two extreme scenarios: an Iranian breakout to nuclear weapons or a capitulation under international pressure to abandon the project completely. There is a third option: a threshold state that has the ability to assemble a nuclear weapon but chooses not to. Charging toward military nuclear capability, […]

Iran Nuclear Nonproliferation

Experts