By Bernadette Stadler and Helen Thompson Recent media reports that President Donald Trump denounced the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) in his first phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin have caused major concern within the nonproliferation community. When Mr. Putin raised the possibility of extending the treaty, which expires in 2018, President Trump reportedly […]
Trump Administration Clarifies Iran’s Missile Test Not a Violation of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)
On January 29, 2017, Iran test-fired the Shahab, a medium-range ballistic missile that may be a violation of a United National Security Council (UNSC) resolution. Following confirmation of the ballistic missile test, during the daily White House press briefing, U.S. National Security Advisor Michael Flynn said the White House was putting Iran “on notice” but […]
Rex Tillerson on Nuclear Weapons Issues
During his confirmation hearing, Secretary of State-designate Rex Tillerson provided some of the first concrete indications of the incoming Trump administration’s positions on nuclear weapons issues. By and large, to the extent that Mr. Tillerson represents future stances of the Trump administration, his testimony was very encouraging on nuclear questions. This is particularly good news, […]
Withdrawing from the Iran Deal Would Be a Disastrous Mistake
President-elect Trump has repeatedly attacked the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, referring to it as a disaster and at one point promising on the campaign trail to tear it up. Yet, experts around the globe and approximately 100 countries have expressed their support for the landmark agreement, […]
The End of the Plutonium Management and Disposition Agreement: A Dark Cloud with a Silver Lining
President Putin’s October 3rd executive order suspending the Plutonium Management and Disposition Agreement (PMDA) is the latest manifestation of the rising tensions between Russia and the United States. Signed in 2000, the PMDA committed Russia and the United States to the disposal of at least 34 tons of their respective stockpiles of weapons-grade plutonium. Plutonium […]
