Non-proliferation
121 Articles
The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and its Limited Impact on the Legality of their Use
On October 24, 2020, following Honduras’ ratification, the UN announced the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) would enter into force on January 22, 2021. Accompanying…
Why Biden May Try to Return to Iran Nuclear Deal Before Renegotiating It
With only five months between President-Elect Biden’s inauguration and Iranian presidential elections in June, in which hardliners are likely to prevail, a clean U.S. return…
How I Came to Support the Treaty Prohibiting Nuclear Weapons
For too long, too many people in the U.S. military, in government, and in the general public have not fully contemplated how disastrous using nuclear weapons was and could be.…
National Security This Week at the United Nations (October 23-30)
Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons gains 50th signatory; schools face terror attacks in multiple countries; COVID-19 infections interrupt UN meetings; UN expresses concern…
A Turning Point in the Struggle Against the Bomb: The Nuclear Ban Treaty Ready to Go Into Effect
The US and other major nuclear powers tried to slow the momentum, but the treaty has already changed the conversation.
National Security at the United Nations This Week (Oct. 16 – 23)
UNSMIL hails ceasefire in Libya On Friday, the parties to the nine-year Libyan war agreed to a ceasefire in Geneva. The head of the U.N. Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Stephanie…
New Financial Sector Sanctions will Eviscerate Humanitarian Trade with Iran
A basic understanding of the legal landscape of U.S. sanctions makes clear that sanctioning the rest of Iran’s financial sector will carry significant consequences for the Iranian…
Reengaging on Treaties and Other International Agreements (Part II): A Path Forward
If Biden is elected and becomes president in January 2021, what can he do to rejoin international agreements from which Trump has withdrawn the United States?
Reengaging on Treaties and Other International Agreements (Part I): President Donald Trump’s Rejection of International Law
If Joe Biden defeats President Donald Trump, he will face the question of how to revive U.S. participation on the international stage, including through rejoining many of the international…
The US “Snapback” Against Iran – Bad Politics and Flawed Law
One of the most eminent former US Ambassadors issues 9-page memorandum challenging the US government's position on the Iran nuclear deal.
National Security at the United Nations This Week (Sept. 18-25)
General Debate opens; leaders urge cooperation and UNSC reform; Trump attempts to snapback sanctions on Iran, allies decline; and Special Envoy for Syria describes "ray of hope"…
US Iran Envoy to Step Down—Ahead of Key U.S. Move on Nuclear Program
The move comes as the Trump administration is expected to try to 'snapback' UN Iran sanctions, collapse nuclear deal