Nuclear Weapons Watch Thread

[caltrek]

Experts Divided Over Path Toward Effective Nuclear Disarmament
by Takashi Ogawa and Emika Terashima
December 10, 2023

Introduction:

(Asahi Shimbun) NAGASAKI--A group of experts discussing ways to rid the world of nuclear weapons ended two days of talks here without reaching specific agreement in part due to differences over the merits of deterrence and the importance of a nuclear ban treaty.

The International Group of Eminent Persons for a World without Nuclear Weapons, established last year under the leadership of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, held its third meeting on Dec. 8-9.

It comprises experts from nuclear powers, such as the United States, Russia and China, and non-nuclear weapon states. The meeting was closed to the public, in principle.

At a news conference after the meeting, Takashi Shiraishi, who chairs the group, said members discussed “extremely difficult issues that must be overcome.”

He cited three major areas of contention: the deterioration of security and the global strategic environment; the impact of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies on nuclear disarmament; and nuclear ethics and norms.

Read more here: https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15080185

[weatheriscool]

[weatheriscool]

[firestar464]

The original Bloomberg article:

https://archive.is/6gBXv
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... pile-grows

[weatheriscool]

[wjfox]

[weatheriscool]

[weatheriscool]

[wjfox]

Trident missile test fails for second time in a row

12 minutes ago

The test firing of a Trident missile from a Royal Navy submarine has failed, for the second time in a row.

The latest test was from HMS Vanguard off the east coast of the US and was witnessed by the defence secretary.

The missile's booster rockets failed and it landed in the sea close to the launch site, according to the Sun, which first reported the malfunction.

When on patrol the missiles would usually be armed with a nuclear warhead but they are not fitted for test fires.

This is highly embarrassing for both the UK and the US manufacturer of the Trident missile.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68355395



Image source, ROYAL NAVY

[wjfox]

[weatheriscool]

[firestar464]

Linking to Bloomberg as the WT sucks.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... alyst-says
https://archive.is/TLytu

[Time_Traveller]

Poland ready to host US nuclear weapons, Duda says

04/22/24 10:45 AM ET

Polish President Andrzej Duda says Poland is ready to host U.S. nuclear weapons, saying the topic was one of frequent discussions between Warsaw and Washington.

Duda told Polish tabloid Fakt in an interview published Monday that Russia is increasingly militarizing the Kaliningrad province between Poland and Lithuania and has relocated tactical nuclear weapons to ally Belarus.

“I must admit that when asked about it, I declared our readiness,” the Polish president said of talks with U.S. officials. “If our allies decide to deploy nuclear weapons as part of nuclear sharing also on our territory to strengthen the security of NATO’s eastern flank, we are ready for it. We are an ally in the North Atlantic Alliance and we also have obligations in this respect.”

Poland, which borders Ukraine, is not a nuclear power, and the U.S. does not currently keep nuclear weapons in the country.

However, U.S. tactical nuclear weapons, which have a smaller yield but are still devastating bombs, are in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey.

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/4610 ... to-russia/

[weatheriscool]

[Time_Traveller]

In there eyes, they want nukes in space so they can nuke countries from orbit.

[wjfox]

Russia to hold nuclear drills following 'threats' from West

47 minutes ago

Russia has started preparations for missile drills near Ukraine simulating the use of tactical nuclear weapons in response to "threats" by Western officials.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said recent statements by French President Emmanuel Macron and the British Foreign Secretary David Cameron constituted a "completely new round of escalation of tension".

Last week, Mr Macron refused to rule out potentially deploying French troops, should Kyiv request them, while Lord Cameron said that Ukraine had the right to use British weapons for strikes within Russia.

On Monday, Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Lord Cameron's "hostile outburst" contradicted previous British assurances that the long-range missiles sent to Ukraine would not be used on Russian territory and meant that the UK was a "party to the conflict".

The ministry added that the response to Ukrainian strikes using British weapons on Russia could involve targeting any British military facilities and equipment on the territory of Ukraine and beyond.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq5npwdv3wzo

[Time_Traveller]

Russia to hold nuclear drills following 'threats' from West

47 minutes ago

Russia has started preparations for missile drills near Ukraine simulating the use of tactical nuclear weapons in response to "threats" by Western officials.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said recent statements by French President Emmanuel Macron and the British Foreign Secretary David Cameron constituted a "completely new round of escalation of tension".

Last week, Mr Macron refused to rule out potentially deploying French troops, should Kyiv request them, while Lord Cameron said that Ukraine had the right to use British weapons for strikes within Russia.

On Monday, Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Lord Cameron's "hostile outburst" contradicted previous British assurances that the long-range missiles sent to Ukraine would not be used on Russian territory and meant that the UK was a "party to the conflict".

The ministry added that the response to Ukrainian strikes using British weapons on Russia could involve targeting any British military facilities and equipment on the territory of Ukraine and beyond.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq5npwdv3wzo

Day by Day, Russia is slowly progressing towards a new world war within the next decade or so.

[wjfox]

Russia begins tactical nuclear weapon drills near Ukraine border

Tue 21 May 2024 18.17 BST

Russian forces have started military drills near Ukraine simulating the use of tactical nuclear weapons in response to what Moscow deems threats from western officials about increased involvement in the conflict.

Vladimir Putin ordered the drills earlier this month in a move Russian officials said was a warning to the west not to escalate tensions further.

The Kremlin has particularly been angered by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, who floated the possibility of sending European troops to fight Russia in Ukraine, and by remarks from the UK foreign secretary, David Cameron, who said Ukraine had the right to use weapons supplied by London to target sites in Russia.

The Russian defence ministry published footage on Tuesday showing trucks carrying missiles to a field where launch systems had been prepared and troops at an airfield readying a bomber to carry a nuclear warhead.

The drills are taking place in Russia’s southern military district, headquartered in Rostov-on-Don, which borders Ukraine and includes parts of the country which Russia occupies.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/artic ... ine-border



Russian defence ministry/Reuters

[caltrek]

How Worried Should We be About Russia Putting a Nuke in Space?
by Joshua Keating
May 22, 2024

Introduction:

(Vox) A number of statements from US officials over the past three months have been raising ominous warnings about a Russian plan to put an alarming new weapon into space. As a Department of Defense spokesperson put it to Vox directly in a conversation last week, “The United States assesses that Russia is developing a new satellite carrying a nuclear device.”

If there’s any good news in this scenario, it’s that such a device would not be intended to kill people on the ground, but to destroy satellites in orbit.

Don’t get too relaxed, though: The Pentagon spokesperson stressed that a nuclear detonation in space would be “catastrophic” and “pose a threat to the thousands of satellites operated by countries and companies around the globe, as well as to the vital communications, scientific, meteorological, agricultural, commercial, and national security services we all depend upon.” It would also mark a major step toward the militarization of space and potentially a new and even more dangerous era of nuclear brinkmanship.

Still, much remains unclear about what exactly this device is, how close it is to being deployed, and what the Russian government’s plans are for it — if indeed they actually have any. Since the intentional release of what turned out to be remarkably accurate intelligence assessments in the lead-up to the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the current US government has earned itself credibility when it comes to predicting Russia’s military moves. But in this case, each new revelation about the weapon seems to raise as many questions as it answers.

Read more here: https://www.vox.com/world-politics/350 ... pon-putin

[weatheriscool]

Russia terminates nuclear deal with Japan

Moscow has officially ended a 1993 agreement with Tokyo on dismantling the Soviet atomic arsenal
https://x.com/RT_com/status/1794269672705065114