"I find hope in the work of long-established groups such as the Arms Control Association...[and] I find hope in younger anti-nuclear activists and the movement around the world to formally ban the bomb."
Shervin Taheran
Authored by on August 16, 2016
On Aug. 12, Pakistan announced at a press briefing that it is "prepared to consider translating its unilateral moratorium [on nuclear testing] into a bilateral arrangement on non-testing with India." This statement is a variation of Pakistan's views on a regional test moratorium. At the June CTBT Ministerial Meeting in Vienna, Pakistan's ambassador said: Following the first nuclear test in 1974 in our neighbourhood, Pakistan made several proposals for keeping South Asia free of nuclear weapons and missiles including a proposal for a regional CTBT. None of these proposals met a…
Authored by on August 4, 2016
U.S. President Barack Obama is seeking approval for a UN Security Council resolution to reinforce the norm against nuclear testing, in a move that would coincide with the 20th anniversary of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), which the United States signed in 1996. The Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin quoted National Security Council spokesperson Ned Price as saying that while the administration would like to see the Senate ratify the CTBT, they are “looking at possible action in the UN Security Council that would call on states not to test and support the CTBT’s objectives. We…
Authored by on July 21, 2016
The 2016 Democratic Party Platform, which was released on July 21, says that Democrats "will strengthen the [nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty], push for the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, and stop the spread of loose nuclear material." This is modified slightly from the 2012 party platform which declares: "We will also work to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and seek a new Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty that prohibits the production of fissile materials intended for use in nuclear weapons." While the 2016 Republican Party Platform does not specifically…
Authored by on June 30, 2016
Foreign ministers and representatives from more than 69 states and international organizations gathered in Vienna on June 13-14 for a special meeting to mark the 20th anniversary of the opening for signature of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and to explore options for advancing its entry into force. Following a visit from the head of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) to Jerusalem on June 20, the Israeli government pledged to ratify the treaty “at the right time.” In his welcoming remarks, Lassina Zerbo, the executive secretary of the CTBTO Provisional…
Authored by on June 17, 2016
In addition to the diplomats and experts who attended the June 13 Ministerial Meeting in Vienna, the meeting also featured participation by a new CTBTO Initiative to engage youth called the "CTBTO Youth Group." Members of this youth group took the opportunity at the "CTBT@20: The Way Forward - The Role of Civil Society" panel discussion to present statements and ideas on how to spur action on the CTBT, either by proposing frameworks for dialogue between nations, or by painting a picture of a world in 20 years in which the CTBT is in force. The work of these youth group members culminated…
Authored by on June 3, 2016
In a New York Times article released May 29, the latest installment of the Retro Report video series investigated the hardships of atomic veterans—military men and women who took part in atmospheric nuclear tests conducted in the Pacific and in Nevada soon after World War II.
Authored by on April 27, 2016
On 27 April 2016, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addressed an audience, ranging from veteran officials to young leaders, on the need for the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). The event was held in Vienna, Austria, but was followed across the world via media coverage, livestream, and social media.
Authored by on April 26, 2016
Senior U.S. government officials have been touring different states to deliver addresses explaining the national security benefits of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty since October, with Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Rose Gottemoeller and Special Representative of the President for Nuclear Nonproliferation Ambassador Adam Scheinman taking the lead. Scheinman’s keynote address at the "Deterrence & Assurance Academic Conference and Workshop” at the University of Nebraska-Omaha on March 4 was covered in the Omaha World-Herald. As part of her…
Authored by on March 16, 2016
As part of its response to tough new sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council following its fourth nuclear test explosion on Jan. 6, the Pyongyang regime has threatened a new round of nuclear tests and claims to have developed a warhead design small enough to load on a ballistic missile. Many analysts doubt Pyongyang has fully developed such a capability and they underscore the importance of restarting negotiations to try to halt further nuclear and ballistic missile tests, particularly of the KN-08 missile, that could allow it to perfect such a capability. For further analysis, see…
Authored by on March 3, 2016