CFR.org - Proliferation

Obama's Summits: Gradual Steps With Russia, Climate Change

Council on Foreign Relations — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:31:34 -0400

CFR's Charles A. Kupchan says President Obama's summit meetings have advanced relations with Russia and consensus with industrialized states on climate change but that difficult work is ahead on both fronts.

'Incremental Progress' on Nuclear Issues at U.S.-Russia Summit

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:02:19 -0400

CFR's top arms control expert, Charles D. Ferguson, says "nothing revolutionary" was agreed to on arms control issues at the U.S.-Russia summit, despite a pledge to cut nuclear arsenals down from current levels.

The Joint Understanding for the START Follow-on Treaty

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:27:07 -0400

On July 6, Presidents Medvedev and Obama signed a Joint Understanding to guide the remainder of the negotiations. The Joint Understanding commits the United States and Russia to reduce their strategic warheads to a range of 1500-1675, and their strategic delivery vehicles to a range of 500-1100. Under the expiring START and the Moscow treaties the maximum allowable levels of warheads is 2200 and the maximum allowable level of launch vehicles is 1600.

Press Conference of President Obama and President Medvedev of Russia

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:17:22 -0400

President Obama:

...We've taken important steps forward to increase nuclear security and to stop the spread of nuclear weapons.

This starts with the reduction of our own nuclear arsenals. As the world's two leading nuclear powers, the United States and Russia must lead by example, and that's what we're doing here today. We have signed a Joint Understanding for a follow-on treaty to the START agreement that will reduce our nuclear warheads and delivery systems by up to a third from our current treaty limitations. This legally binding treaty will be completed this year.

We've also agreed on a joint statement on nuclear security cooperation that will help us achieve the goal of securing all vulnerable nuclear materials within four years -- progress that we can build upon later this week at the G8 summit. Together, these are important steps forward in implementing the agenda that I laid out in Prague.

Seeking Substance in Moscow

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:33:16 -0400

In Moscow, President Barack Obama will focus on improving U.S.-Russia relations, which suffered during the final years of the Bush administration. But analysts say moving beyond rhetoric toward substantive change could be complicated by history and competing interests.

The Six-Party Talks on North Korea's Nuclear Program

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:26:08 -0400

The Six-Party Talks serve as a forum about North Korea's nuclear weapons program, but the negotiations have been riddled by Pyongyang's belligerence and the differing priorities of the participating nations.

Sanctioning North Korea

Council on Foreign Relations — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:46:46 -0400

CFR Fellow Kara C. McDonald says the new UN Security Council Resolution against North Korea is one of the strongest set of sanctions adopted thus far by the body, though success in bringing North Korea back to the negotiation table is dependent on enforcement.

Prepared Testimony by Scott A. Snyder: “North Korea’s Nuclear and Missile Tests and Six-Party Talks: Where Do We Go From Here?”

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:33:01 -0400

Scott A. Snyder testifies before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs' Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and the Global Environment; and Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade. His testimony addresses North Korea’s nuclear and missile tests and Six-Party talks.

Prepared Testimony by Charles D. Ferguson Before the House Committee on Science and Technology

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:20:07 -0400

Charles D. Ferguson gives an "Assessment of the Proliferation Risks of Spent Fuel Reprocessing and Alternative Nuclear Waste Management Strategies," before the House Committee on Science and Technology.

Joint Remarks by President Obama and President Lee Myung-bak, June 2009

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:24:31 -0400

Speech

Joint Vision for the Alliance of the United States of America and the Republic of Korea

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:23:33 -0400

Statement

A New Chapter for U.S.-South Korea Alliance

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 09:14:46 -0400

Jack Pritchard, John H. Tilelli Jr., and Scott A. Snyder discuss the three main issues President Obama and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak must address at their meeting in Washington today.

WashPost: Up Close and Personal, Here's What I Learned

Council on Foreign Relations — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 10:22:59 -0400

The former deputy chief of the U.S. delegation to the six-party talks on North Korea during the Bush administration shares his observations on Kim Jong Il's true intentions and goals.

UN Security Council Resolution 1874, North Korea

Council on Foreign Relations — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 09:33:01 -0400

Resolution

Coping with Pyongyang: Regional Diplomacy Still Vital

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:47:30 -0400

Northeast Asian regional security talks appear increasingly doomed since North Korea's latest missile and nuclear tests. CFR's Sheila Smith argues the talks are worth reviving.

WashPost: Reining In Pyongyang

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:29:51 -0400

In this opinion piece, Henry Kissinger suggests the international diplomatic effort to manage North Korea's nuclear arsenal needs to harden, and adopt the elimination of North Korean nuclear weapons as its goal.

Special Conference Call: The North Korea Nuclear Crisis (Audio)

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 10:47:05 -0400

Listen to experts discuss the implications of North Korea’s recent nuclear tests and the available policy options for the Obama administration and the international community.

The North Korea Nuclear Crisis

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:18:49 -0400

Sheila Smith and Scott Snyder discuss the reasons behind North Korea's provocative actions, and the implications for its neighbors in the region as well as the United States.

U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy: Report of a CFR-Sponsored Independent Task Force

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 28 May 2009 14:58:56 -0400

The co-chairs of the CFR-sponsored independent task force on U.S. nuclear weapons policy outline their recommendations on how to ensure the safety, security, and reliability of the U.S. deterrent nuclear force, prevent nuclear terrorism and strengthen the nuclear nonproliferation regime.

The North Korean Puzzle

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 28 May 2009 12:55:11 -0400

North Korea's nuclear test raises new concerns about its nuclear capabilities, regime succession, and the limits of both international pressure and engagement. Four experts address the policy options available to influence Pyongyang.

The National: Pyongyang Ratchets Up the Tension

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 28 May 2009 10:12:40 -0400

Marcus Noland of Peterson Institute for International Economics says although the North Korean case will be taken up in the UN Security Council, UN sanctions have proven utterly ineffective in deterring North Korean behavior.

U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy: Report of a CFR-Sponsored Independent Task Force (Audio)

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 28 May 2009 09:00:53 -0400

Listen to the co-chairs of the CFR-sponsored independent task force on U.S. nuclear weapons policy outline their recommendations on how to ensure the safety, security, and reliability of the U.S. deterrent nuclear force, prevent nuclear terrorism and strengthen the nuclear nonproliferation regime.

The Foreign Policy Factor in Iran's Presidential Race

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 27 May 2009 14:53:50 -0400

Farideh Farhi, a prominent expert on Iranian politics, says Iran's presidential race highlights very clear differences on how Iran's foreign policy should be conducted and the debate has major implications for U.S.-Iran relations.

Open Source Center: 2009 North Korea Leadership Chart

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 26 May 2009 12:08:13 -0400

This DNI Open Source Center chart identifies the leadership hierarchy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

A Nuclear Test for the Obama Administration

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 25 May 2009 12:47:46 -0400

CFR's Northeast Asia expert Sheila A. Smith says it is imperative for the United States to make it clear that it will not accept a nuclear North Korea. The UN's nonproliferation regime is also facing a moment of truth, she says.

EWI: Iran's Nuclear and Missile Potential

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 20 May 2009 13:21:10 -0400

This U.S.-Russia joint assessment of Iran's nuclear and missile potential, published by the East West Institute, finds that Iran could produce a simple nuclear device within one to three years and develop a nuclear warhead for ballistic missiles in six to eight years. It also reports that Tehran will not be able, for at least ten to fifteen years, to independently master the technologies necessary for advanced intermediate-range ballistic missiles or intercontinental ballistic missiles.

NYT: Pakistan Is Rapidly Adding Nuclear Arms, U.S. Says

Council on Foreign Relations — Sun, 17 May 2009 15:32:08 -0400

There are new concerns on Capitol Hill about whether billions of dollars in proposed military aid might be diverted to Pakistan's nuclear program.

Strengthening The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Regime

Council on Foreign Relations — Fri, 08 May 2009 13:36:40 -0400

What stake does the United States have in the global nonproliferation regime as it currently exists? What are the risks and rewards of bilateral arrangements with countries such as India? How can loopholes in the NPT be closed? Should the United States ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty? What are the lessons of voluntary initiatives, such as the Proliferation Security Initiative, for a coalition approach to nonproliferation?

Strengthening the Nuclear Nonproliferation Regime (Video)

Council on Foreign Relations — Fri, 08 May 2009 13:00:52 -0400

Watch experts analyze current nuclear nonproliferation agreements, as well as how to address the nuclear ambitions of countries such as India and Iran.

This session was part of the CFR conference: The United States and the Future of Global Governance, which was made possible through the generous support of the Robina Foundation.

Strengthening the Nuclear Nonproliferation Regime (Audio)

Council on Foreign Relations — Fri, 08 May 2009 11:40:16 -0400

Listen to experts analyze current nuclear nonproliferation agreements, as well as how to address the nuclear ambitions of countries such as India and Iran.

This session was part of the CFR conference: The United States and the Future of Global Governance, which was made possible through the generous support of the Robina Foundation.