WISCONSIN PROJECT ON NUCLEAR ARMS CONTROL
China's nuclear force now three times larger than India's: SIPRI data
China is rapidly increasing its nuclear arsenal, now boasting 500 warheads, triple that of India. This expansion reflects heightened geopolitical tensions and a global trend toward modernizing nuclear capabilities. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reports that all nine nuclear-armed states are enhancing their arsenals, with China and the US notably placing warheads on high operational alert.
Russia President Vladimir Putin makes a rare visit to North Korea, an old ally
Putin was met at Pyongyang's airport by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. They shook hands and embraced, and Kim later joined Putin in his car to personally guide him to Pyongyang's Kumsusan State Guest House, North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency said.
Why is Russia holding nuclear exercises - and what to watch for?
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his military to conduct drills involving the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons, citing perceived threats from France, Britain, and the United States. The drills will include missile forces, aviation, and the navy from the Southern Military District, near Ukraine, as well as Belarus. Russia linked the drills to what it called "militant statements" by Western officials. While nuclear powers routinely conduct nuclear exercises, it is rare to explicitly link such drills to ongoing conflicts.
US confident about meeting new deadline for UK, Australia AUKUS exemptions
A top U.S. arms control official expressed confidence on Tuesday that the country is likely to meet a new deadline to finalize trade exemptions for the AUKUS defense project with Australia and Britain. AUKUS, established in 2021 to address concerns about China's growing power, involves Australia acquiring nuclear-powered attack submarines and deepening defense cooperation. The sharing of technology under AUKUS is subject to strict U.S. International Trafficking in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Although a 120-day deadline to qualify Australia and Britain for exemptions passed without certification, the State Department expects to finalize the exemptions after an additional 120 days.
US-China competition to field military drone swarms could fuel global arms race
The planners envision a scenario in which hundreds, even thousands of the machines engage in coordinated battle. A single controller might oversee dozens of drones. Some would scout, others attack. Some would be able to pivot to new objectives in the middle of a mission based on prior programming rather than a direct order.
Iran’s better, stealthier drones are remaking global warfare
Iran's drone technology is reshaping global conflicts, with drones based on Iranian designs being used in various countries, including Sudan, Syria, and Ukraine. These drones, like the Zagel-3 based on Iran's Ababil model, are becoming increasingly sophisticated and are used by militias and militaries worldwide. Iran's drone industry, fueled by sanctions and innovative methods to circumvent them, is a key element of its military strategy, allowing it to project power and influence far beyond its borders.
North Korea confirms it test fired new hypersonic missile
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test launch of a new intermediate-range solid fuel missile carrying a hypersonic warhead. This test, reported by the Korean Central News Agency, took place in a Pyongyang suburb. Kim claimed that all of North Korea's developed missiles are now based on solid fuel technology and capable of carrying nuclear warheads. The missile launch comes amid heightened tensions, with Japan and South Korea tracking the projectile's path. Solid-fuel missiles offer advantages in launch preparation and strike capabilities.
China increases defence budget by 7.2% to accelerate military modernisation; Here's how India's preparedness holds up
China has announced a significant 7.2% increase in its defence budget, surpassing $230 billion, which is more than three times India's military expenditure. This increase comes despite China's economic slowdown and refusal to de-escalate tensions with India along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). China aims to modernize its two-million-strong armed forces to deter US interference, especially regarding Taiwan. This includes strengthening conventional military and nuclear forces and strategic moves in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), such as a military assistance pact with the Maldives.
Russia says it is considering putting a nuclear power plant on the moon with China
Russia and China are considering putting a nuclear power plant on the moon from 2033-35, according to Yuri Borisov, head of Russia's space agency Roscosmos. Borisov said that solar panels would not provide enough electricity to power future lunar settlements, while nuclear power could. The Russian space programme has faced setbacks, including a failed moon mission last year.
Iran displays missile capability amid Gaza war
Iran's ballistic missile programme, which has advanced over the past 40 years despite sanctions, has brought Western attention to Iran's missile capabilities. Iranian forces, during strikes in Pakistan, Iraq, and Syria, showcased their missile arsenal, which covers short, medium, and long ranges. The development of solid-propellant missiles has made them more tactically useful for Iran. Iranian leaders have relied on missiles as an effective means of retaliation and defense, compensating for the lack of a modern air force. It is unknown how large Iranian missile stocks are, but estimates suggest there could be over 200,000 missiles. Iran aims to improve its missile capabilities, including hitting moving targets and extending the range beyond 2,000 kilometers.
At Japanese nuclear plant, controversial treated water release just the beginning of decommissioning
In the coastal area of the plant, two seawater pumps are in action, gushing torrents of seawater through sky blue pipes into the big header where the treated water, which comes down through a much thinner black pipe from the hilltop tanks, gets diluted by hundreds of times before the release.
The Fukushima nuclear plant begins releasing radioactive wastewater into the sea
In a live video from a control room at the plant Thursday, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings showed a staff member turn on a seawater pump, marking the beginning of the controversial project that is expected to last for decades.
Russia outnumbers the US 10-to-1 in tactical nukes. Now what?
The blame for the global spike in nuclear anxiety belongs mainly, but not exclusively, to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Surely the situation brought about by his invasion of Ukraine and his recurring rattles of the atomic saber must also change how the US thinks about its own atomic strategy. But how exactly?
Why PM Narendra Modi's upcoming US trip could be as pathbreaking as Manmohan Singh's 2005 visit
Are comparisons with the nuclear deal apt? Perhaps. If all goes well, Modi's 2023 visit could be as pathbreaking as Manmohan Singh's in 2005 when the two countries announced the historic nuclear deal. China was in the background then. But today it's in the foreground and rattling the existing order every which way possible.
Chinese EV maker Nio invests in nuclear fusion startup
With registration capital of 5 billion yuan ($723.37 million), Neo Fusion is 50% controlled by China's eastern province of Anhui government-owned energy companies and investment arms, according to the company's registration filing.
China wants control over entire India-Pacific
A strained Indo-Chinese relationship is witnessing a further plunge, courtesy of China's repeated illegal and provocative campaigns to alter the status quo along the Line of Actual Control, the de facto border between the two nuclear-armed countries.
Inside Saudi Arabia's global push for nuclear power
New details of the Saudi efforts provide a window into the recent difficulties and distrust between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, and into the foreign policy that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is pursuing: greater independence from the United States as he expands partnerships with other world powers, including China.
AUKUS submarines: what are the nuclear proliferation risks?
If discussions are "not done properly, it could set a bad precedent," Kimball warned, urging the United States to "not push for any exemptions for the nonproliferation rules". The AUKUS deal could potentially also add to the proliferation of ballistic missile and cruise missile capabilities among East Asian countries, he added.
Nuclear risk seen rising as Vladimir Putin unpicks last treaty with US
Now it may be beyond repair, raising the risk of a new arms race - in parallel with the war in Ukraine - in which neither side can rely on the stable, predictable framework that successive nuclear accords have provided for more than 50 years. Security analysts said that could hugely complicate the delicate calculus that underpins mutual deterrence between the two countries, while also spurring other powers such as China, India and Pakistan to build up their nuclear arsenals.
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