Nuclear forces, NPT, 2015 Yearbook, migrant smuggling and more

SIPRI Update: Global Security & Arms Control

June 2015

UPCOMING EVENTS

The 2015 NPT Review Conference: setting the record straight

By Tariq Rauf
Nearly a month has elapsed since the 2015 Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) failed to agree on a final document after four weeks of tedious discussions and negotiations. As SIPRI released earlier this month, all the nuclear weapon-possessing states are working to develop new nuclear weapon systems and/or upgrade their existing ones.

Read Tariq Rauf's summary and assessment of why the review conference failed.

New SIPRI Yearbook out: Nuclear force reductions and modernizations continue; peace operations increase

SIPRI launched the 46th edition of the yearbook: SIPRI Yearbook 2015. Key findings include: (1) all the nuclear weapon-possessing states are working to develop new nuclear weapon systems and/or upgrade their existing ones; and (2) the number of personnel deployed with peace operations worldwide continues to fall while the number of peace operations increases.

Read the press release in Arabic, Catalan, French, Spanish or Swedish (PDF), view our newly updated nuclear forces pages, and download the Yearbook Summary from the SIPRI Yearbook pages.

Migrant smuggling: moving beyond an EU military response

In April as many as 1,200 boat refugees drowned in the Mediterranean. They were thought to be fleeing war or persecution in Eritrea, Somalia and Syria. Their deaths are partly attributed to the EU’s failing asylum policy. Their suffering has mobilized significant political will in Europe. This has happened for mainly laudable and compassionate reasons. However, some political leaders seem to look to managing the problem by focusing on symptoms rather than causes, and primarily through a military lens.

Read the recent expert comment by Lars-Erik Lundin.

New SIPRI project on mapping ATT-relevant cooperation and assistance activities in sub-Saharan Africa

SIPRI has received funding from the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to produce a database that will map Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)-relevant cooperation and assistance activities in sub-Saharan Africa. The project will be carried out in cooperation with the UN Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament (UNREC).

Check out our recent blogs

Incoming SIPRI Director Dan Smith writes on gender, peace, security, slavery and cigarettes and SIPRI’s Sam Perlo-Freeman writes on oil, arms and corruption at Oxford University Press’ blog. As part of SIPRI's cooperation with Economics for Peace and Security (EPS), Professor Herbert Wulf writes on the BRICS countries economic challenges and Patricia Justino on whether government transfers reduce civil unrest.

RECENT EVENTS

15 June, Stockholm

SIPRI launches Yearbook 2015 at event with Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs

In cooperation with the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, SIPRI shared key findings on peace operations, conflict management and the role of gender at the SIPRI Yearbook 2015 launch event. The event featured a keynote speech by Annika Söder, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs.

Read the speech, watch a brief interview with Annika Söder and SIPRI’s Ian Anthony and contact Stephanie Blenckner for further information. Read all about the Yearbook below under Latest Publication.

19 June, London

SIPRI and Oxford University Press host panel on SIPRI Yearbook at BISA conference

SIPRI and its publishing partner Oxford University Press hosted the panel discussion Fragile Development 2015-2030: understanding how insecurity and poor governance will affect sustainable development at last week’s conference of the British International Studies Association (BISA). Chaired by incoming SIPRI Director Dan Smith, the panel presented brief snapshots of the developing world in 2015 and the likely challenges to development over the next 15 years.

Read more about the SIPRI-OUP event and about the BISA conference. Contact Stephanie Blenckner for further information.

2 June, Tbilisi, Georgia

SIPRI co-hosts event on integration in the Caucasus

SIPRI organized the workshop New Trajectories of Integration in the Caucasus: The Challenges for Conflict and Security in Tbilisi, Georgia, as part of the international, EU-funded Security and Democracy in the Neighbourhood project (CASCADE). The Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies (GFSIS) hosted the event, which examined the security, economic impacts, and international politics of the EU and Russia's integration projects in the Caucasus, as well as their impact on protracted conflicts and European regional priorities. SIPRI will publish a policy brief to summarize the workshop.

Read more about the event at the GFSIS page and contact Dr Neil Melvin for further information.

More recent events

Dr Ian Anthony attended the annual Kyiv Security Forum and discussed the limitations of OSCE missions.

SIPRI IN THE MEDIA

>> The launch of SIPRI Yearbook 2015 has been covered by more than 1100 media outlets worldwide. Contact SIPRI Communications Director Stephanie Blenckner for a complete report.

>> Richard Ghiasy published an opinion piece on the three visions for Afghanistan's future in The Diplomat.

>> Mathieu Duchâtel commented on his new book China's Strong Arm: Protecting Citizens and Assets Abroad (Routledge/IISS) to the BBC, Le Monde, Bloomberg, Global Times, New Indian Express and more.

>>Neil Melvin's interview by Reuters on Baltic states' concern of a 'hybrid war' with Russia was picked up by the Moscow Times, among others. He also commented on the Eastern Partnership meeting in Riga, Latvia, to Swedish Radio.

>>Pieter Wezeman commented on Iran's military spending to Reuters and on African countries' weapons manufacturing to the Atlanta Black Star.

>> More SIPRI in the media ...

LATEST PUBLICATIONS

SIPRI Yearbook 2015

The 46th edition of the SIPRI Yearbook is a compendium of data and analysis in the areas of security and conflicts; military spending and armaments; and non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament. It covers developments during 2014 including:

aspects of the ongoing conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Ukraine;
regional military-security trends in East Asia;
military spending in the USA;
the continued negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear programme; and
the entry into force of the Arms Trade Treaty.

Download a Summary of SIPRI Yearbook 2015.

Browse the contents page.

FEATURED PUBLICATION

SIPRI Annual Review 2014

Annual Review 2014 contains highlights from SIPRI's research programme activities in 2014 as well as details of flagship events and publications, media coverage, financial information, and staff facts and figures.

This second edition of the SIPRI Annual Review tells the story of SIPRI’s activities during the past year and serves as both a reference work and a colourful snapshot of some of the exciting events that occurred during 2014.

Read the online version and contact Stephanie Blenckner for more information.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Trends in world military expenditure, 2014

Trends in international arms transfers, 2014

The SIPRI Top 100 arms-producing and military services companies, 2013

© SIPRI 2015. ISSN 1654-8264.
Contact SIPRI by email: sipri@sipri.org; telephone: +46 8 655 97 00; or post:
SIPRI, Signalistgatan 9, SE-169 70 Solna, Sweden. Visit us online at www.sipri.org.

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