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Essays
The logic of avoiding nuclear war
Dan Smith, Dr Sibylle Bauer and Dr Tytti ErästöOn 3 January, the leaders of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (China, France, Russia, the UK and the USA, the P5) jointly stated that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. It had never been affirmed simultaneously by all five.
Russia’s anti-satellite test should lead to a multilateral ban
Nivedita RajuOn 15 November, Russia conducted a direct-ascent anti-satellite (DA-ASAT) test, destroying one of its own space objects, a defunct satellite, in low-earth orbit. The test captured international attention and was quickly and widely condemned as threatening and irresponsible—not least for the cloud of lethal, uncontrollable debris it created, which will endanger both space assets and human spaceflight for years to come.
Security, insecurity and the Anthropocene
Dr Malin Mobjörk and Eva LövbrandIn this essay, the volume editors present the key themes of their new book Anthropocene (In)securities: Reflections on Collective Survival 50 Years After the Stockholm Conference, published this week by SIPRI and Oxford University Press.
Why is Iran producing 60 per cent-enriched uranium?
Robert E. KelleyOn 13 April, Iran announced its intention to enrich uranium to 60 per cent U-235.
How much of a proliferation threat is Iran’s uranium enrichment?
Robert E. KelleyIran’s atomic energy agency announced last week that it had produced 55 kilograms of 20 per cent-enriched uranium in barely four months.
Joe Biden’s arms control ambitions are welcome—but delivering on them will not be easy
Ambassador Jan Eliasson and Dan SmithA deadly pandemic to control. An urgent nationwide vaccination programme to roll out. An economic crisis to navigate. Political divisions and distrust deep enough to spark mob violence and terrorism. The 46th President of the United States faces a barrage of critical domestic challenges from day one.
No lasting peace without climate security
Dr Florian KrampeThis SIPRI Essay was originally published in the print edition of the East African on 28 November and in the online edition
Diluted disarmament in space: Towards a culture for responsible behaviour
Nivedita RajuHumankind depends on outer space for numerous services, ranging from telecommunications and navigation to disaster management and national security. While the use of space was once associated only with governments, the private sector has become increasingly involved in providing some of these services.
Cultural reconstruction is critical after Islamic State occupation
Shivan Fazil and Dr Dylan O’DriscollThe scars left by the Islamic State group’s three-and-a-half-year occupation in northern Iraq are deep.
Maritime disputes in the eastern Mediterranean: Why and why now?
Dr Ian Anthony and Ambassador Michael SahlinIn August 2020, Greek and Turkish frigates collided in the eastern Mediterranean. The Turkish ship had been escorting a Turkish seismic survey vessel, RV MTA Oruç Reis.