TOP NEWS U.S. Suspends Nuclear Arms Control Treaty with Russia New York Times US Envoy Stephen Biegun ‘Reveals’ North Korea Nuclear Pledge BBC News Europe Launches Trade Vehicle to Bypass US Sanctions Against Iran and Salvage Nuclear Deal While Washington Threatens ‘Severe Consequences’ South China Morning Post Russia/FSU/Europe U.S. Suspends Nuclear Arms Control Treaty with Russia New York Times2/1/2019 The United States is suspending one of the last major nuclear arms control treaties with Russia after heated conversations between the two powers recently failed to resolve a long-running accusation that Moscow is violating the Reagan-era treaty. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the decision on Friday. With INF Treaty At Risk, Germans Fear New Arms Race Deutsche Welle2/1/2019 Thirty years ago, American nuclear weapons were pulled out of Germany. But with President Donald Trump threatening to leave the INF treaty, a new arms race could flare up. Germany’s peace activists are deeply concerned. US Poised to Withdraw From 1987 Nuclear Arms Treaty Financial Times2/1/2019 The Trump administration is poised to suspend US participation in a cold war-era nuclear arms control treaty in a last-ditch attempt to put pressure on Russia, which it accuses of violating the 1987 pact. European Nuclear Powers Must Intervene In INF Treaty Situation, Expert Says TASS Russian News Agency2/1/2019 European countries, particularly the United Kingdom and France who have nuclear weapons, must engage in efforts to establish a new nuclear arms control system, Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) Andrei Kortunov said in an article for Kommersant. Multilateral Arms Control US Calls for Compliance with Nuclear Treaties Daily Mail1/31/2019 The U.S. has called for other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council to adhere to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The call Thursday by Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs Andrea Thompson in Beijing comes as the U.S. is preparing to withdraw from a separate pact, the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty between the United States and the former Soviet Union. East Asia US Envoy Stephen Biegun ‘Reveals’ North Korea Nuclear Pledge BBC News2/1/2019 North Korea has pledged to destroy all its nuclear material enrichment facilities, according to the US special envoy for the country, Stephen Biegun. However, Pyongyang has not confirmed making any such pledge. Middle East Europe launches trade vehicle to bypass US sanctions against Iran and salvage nuclear deal while Washington threatens ‘severe consequences’ South China Morning Post1/31/2019 Britain, France and Germany on Thursday launched a trade mechanism to bypass US sanctions on Iran, drawing praise from Tehran – and a warning from Washington. South Asia India must sign NPT to gain entry into NSG, says China The Hindu1/31/2019 India must sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to gain entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group, China said on Thursday, asserting that “patient negotiations” were required for New Delhi’s admission into the group as there is no precedent for the inclusion of non-NPT countries. Opinion/Analysis With Trump Set To Exit The INF Treaty, We’re Headed Toward A New Nuclear Arms Race Forbes – Michael Krepon 1/31/2019 After the failure of last-ditch talks with Russia on Thursday, President Donald Trump will soon give formal notice that the U.S. will “suspend” and in six months withdraw from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. Vladimir Putin has already threatened an arms race with Trump’s withdrawal from the INF Treaty.