Nuclear Policy News – May 28, 2020

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Top News:

U.S. to withdraw from Open Skies Treaty
Arms Control Association

Resuming U.S. nuclear testing would be “as reckless as it is dangerous,” Biden says
Nevada Independent

ANALYSIS: The role of nuclear weapons in China’s national defense
Real Clear Defense

United States

Resuming U.S. nuclear testing would be “as reckless as it is dangerous,” Biden says
Nevada Independent5/28/20
Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, slammed the Trump administration on Wednesday following a report that senior officials discussed resuming U.S. nuclear testing 28 years after the last test was conducted at the Nevada Test Site.

SENATE LETTER: Senators support president’s efforts to regain and retain U.S. nuclear preeminence
Ted Cruz5/27/20
As China builds nuclear arsenal, Sens. Cruz, Cotton, Cornyn urge President Trump to continue unwinding U.S. from nuclear arms control treaties that exclude China.

East Asia

ANALYSIS: The role of nuclear weapons in China’s national defense
Real Clear Defense – Fiona Cunningham
5/28/20
At the end of April, two upgraded Chinese Type-094 nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) reportedly went into service.

Middle East

U.S. to penalize work at Iranian facilities in latest blow to nuclear accord
New York Times5/28/20
International workers will no longer be able to keep a watchful eye on the nuclear programs, risking a layer of security that had sought to ensure Iran could not secretly violate a 2015 deal with world powers.

Russia and Europe

Two Russian fighter jets ‘buzz’ a US reconnaissance plane
Daily Mail5/27/20
Two Russian fighter jets have been accused of flying in ‘an unsafe and unprofessional manner’ while intercepting a US spy plane.

Russia starts building its first stealth bomber
Reuters5/26/20
Russia has begun building a prototype of its first stealth bomber which should be completed next year, the state-controlled TASS news agency reported on Tuesday, citing two sources in the military-industrial complex.

Trump administration will let arms reduction treaty with Russia expire
Tass5/23/20
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov pointed to the role of the Republican Party

Russian senator criticises U.S. for ending sanctions waivers on Iran nuclear sites
Reuters5/28/20
The United States’ decision to end sanctions waivers that had allowed some work to proceed at Iranian nuclear sites will only provoke Tehran into developing nuclear weapons, Interfax cited Russian Senator Vladimir Dzhabarov as saying on Thursday.

Multilateral Arms Control

NPT’s 50th anniversary encourages 17 signatories to remind five nuclear-weapons states of their commitments
UN Bureau5/28/20
The upcoming 2020 Review Conference of a landmark international treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, presents “a timely opportunity for the States Parties to undertake a comprehensive review and assessment” of its current status, says the Joint Communiqué issued on May 19 by 17 States Party to the NPT.

U.S. to withdraw from Open Skies Treaty
Arms Control Association5/27/20
The United States officially gave notice of its intent to withdraw from the 1992 Open Skies Treaty in May, prompting bipartisan opposition in Congress and expressions of regret from U.S. allies.

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