Top News: ANALYSIS: How Will U.S.-Russia Arms Control Affect the Geneva Summit? Carnegie NNSA can’t make 80-pit production deadline, Acting Administrator says Exchange Monitor On top of Bennett’s to-do list is coordinating with the U.S. New York Times United States Plutonium pit production in SC might happen in 2035. The target was 2030. Aiken Standard6/12/21 Over the course of two weeks, a government pledge, that dozens of nuclear weapon cores known as pits could be made by 2030 at new and improved facilities some 1,600 miles apart, publicly crumbled. NNSA can’t make 80-pit production deadline, Acting Administrator says Exchange Monitor6/11/21 The National Nuclear Security Administration cannot meet a legal requirement to make at least 80 new plutonium cores for intercontinental ballistic missile warheads in 2030, the agency’s acting boss told lawmakers Thursday. East Asia OPINION: Is South Korea beginning to take more responsibility for its own security? Responsible StatecraftDoug Bandow 6/14/21 Many observers judged the recent meeting between President Joe Biden and South Korean President Moon Jae-in a success, with the Biden administration offering a return to normalcy after four tempestuous years under President Donald Trump. Middle East On top of Bennett’s to-do list is coordinating with the U.S. New York Times6/13/21 Among the most important issues that the new Bennett government will confront is how to manage political, military and intelligence coordination with the Biden administration, which will affect how it addresses almost all other foreign, national security and economic policy challenges. At the center of current dialogue is the soon-to-be-concluded, revived nuclear deal with Iran. Top nuclear watchdog: “We are flying blind” without Iran deal Axios6/14/21 The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency tells “Axios on HBO” that it’s “essential” to have a nuclear deal with Iran because otherwise “we are flying blind.” OPINION: In the Iran nuclear crisis, the IAEA stands alone The HillAndrea Stricker, Behnam Ben Taleblu 6/14/21 At a recent press conference, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Rafael Grossi declared that the agency will investigate Iran’s nuclear breaches even if it lacks political cover from member states. Russia and Europe Biden-Putin meeting could set stage for new era in arms control Air Force Times6/14/21 At a low point in U.S.-Russian relations, President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin appear to agree broadly on at least one thing — their first face-to-face meeting Wednesday is a chance to set the stage for a new era in arms control. ANALYSIS: How Will U.S.-Russia Arms Control Affect the Geneva Summit? CarnegieJames Acton 6/14/21 The following is based on remarks that James Acton gave to journalists on June 10, 2021 ahead of the summit between Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin in Geneva. Global Arms Control Global nuclear arsenals grow as states continue to modernize–New SIPRI Yearbook out now Sipri6/14/21 Despite this overall decrease, the estimated number of nuclear weapons currently deployed with operational forces increased to 3825, from 3720 last year.