Top News: U.S. approves five-year extension of nuclear weapon treaty with Russia Politico Biden’s pick for Pentagon deputy vows to defend nuclear triad Bloomberg Russia, China Demand ‘Unconditional’ U.S. Return to Iran Nuclear Deal Newsweek United States U.S. approves five-year extension of nuclear weapon treaty with Russia Politico2/3/21 The U.S., Blinken said, will “also pursue arms control to reduce the dangers from China’s modern and growing nuclear arsenal.” Biden’s pick for Pentagon deputy vows to defend nuclear triad Bloomberg2/2/21 Kathleen Hicks would be first woman confirmed to the post. How Kathleen Hicks will approach nukes, shipbuilding and the budget Defense News2/2/21 Following a smooth confirmation hearing, it appears Kathleen Hicks is headed to the Pentagon. TRANSCRIPT: Nonproliferation expert warns leaders aren’t focused on nuclear weapons threat CBS2/3/21 In this episode of Intelligence Matters, Michael Morell speaks with Lynn Rusten, vice president of the Nuclear Threat Initiative and leader of the Global Nuclear Policy Program, about the state of nuclear proliferation in the world. East Asia Experts: Biden thought likely to reverse Trump’s North Korea policies Voice of America2/2/21 The Biden administration is likely to reverse the Trump administration’s North Korea policies, but experts see little hope for significant progress toward denuclearization in the face of Pyongyang’s determination to strengthen its nuclear arsenal. South Korea urges U.S. flexibility on sanctions to restart North Korea talks Reuters2/3/21 The United States should flexibly enforce sanctions aimed at curbing Pyongyang’s nuclear programmes to revive denuclearisation talks, South Korea’s point man on North Korea said on Wednesday. OPINION: How the United States can chart a new path that avoids war with China Bulletin of Atomic ScientistsHenry Bienen and Jeremiah Ostriker 2/3/21 The Biden administration has said that it will conduct a full review of trade and economic relations with China. It needs, actually, to conduct a review of all aspects of Sino-American relations: trade; technology; cultural, student, and scientific exchanges; and above all, security. Middle East Iranian dissidents urge Biden to press Tehran on human rights, democracy Voice of America2/2/21 A group of Iranian dissidents has urged U.S. President Joe Biden to support their demands for secular democracy and respect for human rights in Iran, issues on which Biden’s administration has been silent early in its term as it focuses on curbing the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program. Biden Administration dodges Iran offer to coordinate nuclear deal return Newsweek2/2/21 President Joe Biden’s administration has dodged an Iranian offer to coordinate both countries’ return to their nuclear deal commitments, arguing that the Islamic Republic must first reinstate the restrictions suspended in response to the U.S. having abandoned the agreement entirely nearly three years ago. Russia and Europe Russia, China Demand ‘Unconditional’ U.S. Return to Iran Nuclear Deal Newsweek2/3/21 President Joe Biden is under pressure from three sides to return the U.S. immediately to compliance with the Iran nuclear deal, as Washington, D.C. and Tehran both remain unwilling to make the first move.