Former Officials Urge Release of New START Data

Today's top nuclear policy stories, with excerpts in bullet form.

Stories we're following today: Wednesday, May 18, 2011.

Letter Urges Release of New START Data - Hans Kristensen in "FAS Strategic Security Blog" [link]

 

 

• Three former U.S. officials have joined FAS in urging the United States and Russia to continue to declassify the same degree of information about their strategic nuclear forces under the New START treaty as they did during the now-expired START treaty.
• In a joint letter, the three former officials joined FAS President Charles Ferguson and myself in urging the United States and Russia to “continue under the New START treaty the practice...of releasing to the public aggregate numbers of delivery vehicles and warheads and locations.”
• The three former officials are: Linton Brooks, Jack Matlock, and William Perry.

US, EU Demand that Iran Drop Objections, Return to Nuclaer Talks - Associated Press 

 

 

• Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Iran must stop stalling and respond in good faith to invitations to discuss the nuclear matter with international negotiators. That’s the same demand, and the same invitation, that negotiators have made for years.
• “The burden remains on Iran to demonstrate it is prepared to end its stalling tactics, drop its unacceptable preconditions and start addressing the international community’s concerns.”
• Iran wants a new round of talks with six world powers to focus on a host of issues including its rights as a nation, and even high-seas piracy, instead of international fears that it’s building a nuclear bomb.

Russia Wants US Guarantees on Missile Shield - Associated Press 

 

 

• Russia wants the United States to provide Moscow with guarantees that a prospective U.S.-led missile shield wouldn't threaten its security, a senior Russia official said Monday. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned that Washington's refusal to provide such guarantees could derail efforts by Russia and NATO to cooperate on missile defense.
• "We can't base our security on assurances and promises, we need a legally-binding agreement," Ryabkov told lawmakers during parliamentary hearings.
• "The current [European missile defense] configuration doesn't undermine our strategic security, but we lack guarantees that it will remain the same in the future," he said.

Pakistan’s “Shoot and Scoot” Nukes - Hans Kristensen in "FAS Strategic Security Blog" [link]

• Pakistan’s production of the NASR (Hatf-9) is a worrisome development for South Asia and the decade-long efforts to avoid nuclear weapons being used. With its range of only 60 kilometers, the multi-tube NASR system is not intended to retaliate against Indian cities but be used first against advancing Indian army forces in a battlefield scenario.
• That sounds like an echo from nuclear battlefields in Europe at the height of the Cold War.
• It is time for Pakistan to explain how many nuclear weapons, of what kind, and for what purpose are needed for its minimum deterrent.

Update on Impact of FY 2011 CR on Nuclear Terrorism Prevention - Kingston Reif in "Nukes of Hazard" [link]

 

 

• In recent weeks NNSA has hinted at how it plans to allocate the $2.321 billion appropriated by Congress in the final FY 2011 continuing resolution for the Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation account...$360 million less than the President's request.
• The bottom line seems to be that NNSA is keeping the high-level commitments to remove highly enriched uranium from countries such as Ukraine and Belarus on track, but other programs, including domestic and international radiological material protection, will be delayed.

China Blocks Release of Report by UN Experts on North Korea Sanctions Violations - Associated Press 

• China blocked the release Tuesday of a report by U.N. experts accusing North Korea of violating U.N. sanctions.
• The report...said North Korea remains “actively engaged” in exporting ballistic missiles, components and technology to numerous customers in the Middle East and South Asia in violation of U.N. sanctions.
• The panel said prohibited ballistic missile-related items are suspected to have been transferred between North Korea and Iran on regularly scheduled flights of Air Koryo and Iran Air, with trans-shipment through a third country that diplomats identified as China.