Senior Policy Director John Erath spoke with the BBC about the possibility of nuclear war between India and Pakistan. “When nuclear weapons can be involved, there is always an unacceptable level of danger,”John Erath, senior policy director at the non-profit Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, told the BBC. “The Indian and Pakistani governments have […]
Nuclear Weapons
India’s Nuclear Weapons: How Far Can Missiles Travel?
Senior Policy Director John Erath spoke with Newsweek about the Indian nuclear arsenal. “In a nuclear exchange, which we certainly hope does not happen, India has a huge advantage because Pakistan’s population centers are within reach of Indian aircraft and ballistic missiles—and many Indian population centers are difficult to hit from Pakistan,” John Erath, senior policy director […]
Op-ed: Nuclear Testing Is a Relic. Resuming It Would Be Reckless.
Research Analyst Shawn Rostker wrote an op-ed in Just Security about why nuclear testing is unnecessary. For more than three decades, the United States has refrained from conducting explosive nuclear tests, maintaining a moratorium that has become a cornerstone of global nuclear stability. This self-imposed restraint has not only bolstered the United States’ moral standing […]
Good Idea, Iffy Prospects
By John Erath President Donald Trump has stated that he would like to commence talks with Russia and China aimed at reducing numbers of nuclear weapons. This is an encouraging proposal; the world would undoubtedly be safer with fewer, not more, nuclear weapons. It is also much easier said than done. Arms control diplomacy is […]
How Military Tritium Production in Civilian Reactors Can Further Non-proliferation Goals
by Taylor Loy* Tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen, is an essential component of most advanced nuclear weapons designs and has typically been produced in secure military facilities. Only a few grams of tritium per warhead are needed to boost nuclear weapon yields significantly. Tritium’s relatively short half-life means that it needs renewal more often […]