The Arms Control Primer

In the eighth episode of The Arms Control Poseur podcast, host William Alberque is joined by Sahil Shah, a Senior Fellow and Program Manager at the Council on Strategic Risks, to discuss the crucial topic of nuclear risk reduction. This episode is a comprehensive exploration into the mechanisms and strategies of nuclear risk reduction, offering valuable insights for anyone interested in the fields of international security, arms control, and global diplomacy. Sahil’s expertise and the detailed discussion make this episode a significant contribution to the ongoing conversation about nuclear non-proliferation and risk management.  The Arms Control Poseur is a podcast series produced by The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC).   We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate, and subscribe to The Arms Control Poseur on the podcast platform of your choice. Date of Recording: 5 October 2023 The Arms Control Poseur is recorded and produced at the IISS in Berlin. Episode background reading: The latest IISS research on ‘Challenges to multilateral arms control’, 6 October 2023, https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/missile-dialogue-initiative/2023/10/challenges-to-multilateral-arms-control/.  Sahil V. Shah’s latest on risk reduction, August 2023, https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2023/08/01/ending-tactical-nuclear-weapons/.  Background on the NRRCs, https://www.state.gov/bureaus-offices/under-secretary-for-arms-control-and-international-security-affairs/bureau-of-arms-control-verification-and-compliance/nuclear-risk-reduction-center/.  A proposal for expanding NRRCs, October 2023, https://stanleycenter.org/publications/nuclear-risk-reduction-centers/.  Background on INCSEAs, https://2009-2017.state.gov/t/isn/4791.htm.  And more resources from the EUNPDC on the topic, https://www.nonproliferation.eu/thematics/nuclear-arms-control/.   Links: Funder: www.nonproliferation.eu/. IISS research programme: Strategy, Technology and Arms Control | IISS Research programme. The Music: https://elysiumon37th.bandcamp.com. ‘The Arms Control Primer’ is a podcast series produced by the IISS Strategy, Technology and Arms Control Programme on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the seventh episode of The Arms Control Poseur podcast, host William Alberque is joined by Manuel Herrera, a researcher in the field of non-proliferation and disarmament, to discuss the complex and evolving landscape of Iran’s nuclear programme. The episode delves into critical efforts to control Iran's nuclear ambitions, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran Nuclear Agreement. Manuel provides a detailed analysis of the current state of Iran’s nuclear programme, including its progress in uranium enrichment and the challenges following the collapse of the JCPOA. The Arms Control Poseur is a podcast series produced by The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC).   We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate, and subscribe to The Arms Control Poseur on the podcast platform of your choice. Date of Recording: 4 October 2023 The Arms Control Poseur is recorded and produced at the IISS in Berlin. Episode background reading:  The latest IISS research on ‘Mitigating the Risks of an Unconstrained Iranian Nuclear Programme’, 31 March 2023, https://www.iiss.org/en/research-paper/2023/03/mitigating-the-risks-of-an--unconstrained-iranian--nuclear-programme/.  Amnah Ibrahim and William Alberque, ‘Iran Approaches the Nuclear Threshold’, 10 November 2022, https://www.iiss.org/en/online-analysis/online-analysis/2022/11/iran-approaches-the-nuclear-threshold/.  Manuel Herrera’s latest on the Regionalising the JCPOA, https://www.iai.it/en/pubblicazioni/regionalising-jcpoa.  Background on Iran’s nuclear programme and efforts to constrain it, https://www.nti.org/analysis/articles/iran-nuclear/.  And more resources from the EUNPDC on the topic, https://www.nonproliferation.eu/thematics/proliferation-crises/.  Links: Funder: www.nonproliferation.eu/. IISS research programme: Strategy, Technology and Arms Control | IISS Research programme. Music: https://elysiumon37th.bandcamp.com. ‘The Arms Control Primer’ is a podcast series produced by the IISS Strategy, Technology and Arms Control Programme on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the sixth episode of The Arms Control Poseur, host William Alberque is joined by Emmanuelle Maitre, a Research Fellow at the Foundation for Strategic Research, to discuss critical issue of missile proliferation. This episode offers a comprehensive overview of the past, present, and future challenges of missile proliferation, including the threats posed by ballistic and cruise missiles. Emmanuelle discusses key countermeasures such as the Missile Technology Control Regime, the Hague Code of Conduct, and UN Security Council Resolution 1540. The conversation with host William Alberque also touches on the relationship between these agreements and space launch capabilities, providing insights into the current state and future prospects of missile control. The Arms Control Poseur is a podcast series produced by The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC).   We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate, and subscribe to The Arms Control Poseur on the podcast platform of your choice. Date of Recording: 24 August 2023 The Arms Control Poseur is recorded and produced at the IISS in Berlin. Episode background reading:Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), https://mtcr.info/ with an NTI explainer, https://www.nti.org/education-center/treaties-and-regimes/missile-technology-control-regime-mtcr/.  The Hague Code of Conduct, https://www.hcoc.at/ and its origins, https://www.nonproliferation.eu/hcoc/origins-and-development-of-the-hague-code-of-conduct/.  IISS resources on missile controls, especially the Missile Dialogue Initiative, https://www.iiss.org/research/defence-and-military-analysis/missile-dialogue-initiative/, https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/online-analysis//2021/08/hague-code-of-conduct.  Emmanuelle Maitre’s latest on the HCOC and Space, https://www.nonproliferation.eu/hcoc/the-hague-code-of-conduct-and-space-2/.  And more resources from the EUNPDC on the topic, https://www.nonproliferation.eu/thematics/means-of-delivery/.   Links: Funder: www.nonproliferation.eu/. IISS research programme: Strategy, Technology and Arms Control | IISS Research programme. Music: https://elysiumon37th.bandcamp.com.  ‘The Arms Control Primer’ is a podcast series produced by the IISS Strategy, Technology and Arms Control Programme on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the fifth episode of The Arms Control Poseur podcast, host William Alberque is joined by Ambassador Aidan Liddle, the UK's Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, to explore the vital topic of security in outer space. Ambassador Liddle provides an in-depth overview of the history and current state of Outer Space Agreements and the legal frameworks that govern them. He discusses the formation and vision of the Open Ended Working Group on Reducing Space Threats and the importance of establishing norms, rules, and principles for responsible behaviours in outer space. Highlighting the lack of 'rules of the road' and the need for concrete measures to ensure space security, Ambassador Liddle emphasizes the role of Space Situational Awareness in making outer space safer. The episode also delves into his diplomatic career and his growing focus on outer space security, offering valuable insights into this critical aspect of international relations. The Arms Control Poseur is a podcast series produced by The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC).   We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate, and subscribe to The Arms Control Poseur on the podcast platform of your choice. Date of Recording: 6 September 2023 The Arms Control Poseur is recorded and produced at the IISS in Berlin. Episode background reading:Open-Ended Working Group on Reducing Space Threats, https://meetings.unoda.org/open-ended-working-group-on-reducing-space-threats-2022.  EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence for a stronger and more resilient European Union, https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/eu-space-policy/eu-space-strategy-security-and-defence_en.  ‘SIPRI expert at UN open-ended working group session on reducing space threats’, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, 16 June 2022, https://www.sipri.org/news/2022/sipri-expert-un-open-ended-working-group-session-reducing-space-threats  United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, Outer Space, https://disarmament.unoda.org/topics/outerspace/.  Aidan Liddle, ‘Responsible behaviours in outer space: towards UNGA 76’, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs, 8 June 2021, https://blogs.fcdo.gov.uk/aidanliddle/2021/06/08/reducing-space-threats-towards-unga-76/.    Links: Funder: www.nonproliferation.eu/. IISS research programme: Strategy, Technology and Arms Control | IISS Research programme. Music: https://elysiumon37th.bandcamp.com.  ‘The Arms Control Primer’ is a podcast series produced by the IISS Strategy, Technology and Arms Control Programme on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the fourth episode of The Arms Control Poseur, host William Alberque is joined by Mallory Stewart, Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Arms Control, Deterrence, and Stability at the US Department of State. Stewart offers a comprehensive analysis of the current US–Russia arms-control landscape, including the challenges and strategic responses in the face of treaty suspensions and global security concerns. She delves into the pandemic-era cessation of inspections, Russia's suspension of treaty obligations, and the US's countermeasures to ensure compliance. Stewart also discusses broader efforts to engage China and the P5 in risk-reduction initiatives, highlighting this period as a crucial inflection point in global security. This episode is essential for anyone interested in the intricacies of international diplomacy, arms control, and the ongoing efforts to maintain global stability. The Arms Control Poseur is a podcast series produced by The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC).  We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate, and subscribe to The Arms Control Poseur on the podcast platform of your choice.  Date of Recording: 23 June 2023 The Arms Control Poseur is recorded and produced at the IISS in Berlin. Episode background reading: Mike Albertson, Nikolai Sokov, ‘Beyond New START: Two Forecasts for Future Russian-US Arms Control’, International Institute for Strategic Studies, 25 April 2023, https://www.iiss.org/research-paper/2023/04/beyond-new-start-forecasts-for-future-russian-us-arms-control/.  Shannon Bugos, ‘US-Russia Nuclear Arms Control’, Arms Control Association, July/August 2023, https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2023-07/news/russia-consider-us-arms-control-proposal.   Rose Gottemoeller and Marshall L. Brown Jr., ‘Legal Aspects of Russia’s New START Suspension Provide Opportunities for US Policy Makers’, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 2 March 2023, https://thebulletin.org/2023/03/legal-aspects-of-russias-new-start-suspension-provide-opportunities-for-us-policy-makers/.  Links: Funder: www.nonproliferation.eu/. IISS research programme: Strategy, Technology and Arms Control | IISS Research programme. Music: https://elysiumon37th.bandcamp.com ‘The Arms Control Primer’ is a podcast series produced by the IISS Strategy, Technology and Arms Control Programme on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this insightful episode of The Arms Control Poseur, Dr Hanna Notte, a distinguished expert in Middle Eastern geopolitics, takes us through the historic efforts to establish arms control in the Middle East. She provides a comprehensive oral history of the multilateral discussions from the early 1990s, focusing on the Arms Control and Regional Security (ACRS) working group. Dr Notte examines the successes and challenges of these talks, their connection with the Middle East Weapons of Mass Destruction Free Zone (WMDFZ) initiative, and emphasizes the importance of inclusive participation and external leverage in arms control processes. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the complexities of regional security and the diplomatic efforts to foster stability in the Middle East. The Arms Control Poseur is a podcast series produced by The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC).   We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate, and subscribe to The Arms Control Poseur on the podcast platform of your choice. Date of Recording: 28 April 2023 The Arms Control Poseur is recorded and produced at the IISS in Berlin. Episode background reading:  Wilson Center, ‘ACRS Oral History Project, The ACRS Oral History Project: An Exploration into the Arms Control and Regional Security Working Group’, Dr Hanna Notte and Dr Chen Kane, https://digitalarchive.wilsoncenter.org/topics/acrs-oral-history-project.  Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, ‘Arms Control in the Middle East’, https://www.sipri.org/research/armament-and-disarmament/weapons-mass-destruction/arms-control-middle-east.   Hebatalla Taha, ‘Misremembering the ACRS: Economic Imaginations and Nuclear Negotiations in the Middle East’, Global Affairs, vol. 7, no. 2, 28 July 2021 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23340460.2021.1955622.   The Nuclear Threat Initiative, ‘Arms Control and Regional Security in the Middle East (ACRS)’, https://www.nti.org/education-center/treaties-and-regimes/arms-control-and-regional-security-middle-east-acrs/.    Links: Funder: www.nonproliferation.eu/. IISS research programme: Strategy, Technology and Arms Control | IISS Research programme. Music: https://elysiumon37th.bandcamp.com. ‘The Arms Control Primer’ is a podcast series produced by the IISS Strategy, Technology and Arms Control Programme on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second episode of The Arms Control Poseur podcast, host William Alberque is joined by Dr Jeffrey Lewis, a renowned professor at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, to discuss the state of arms control with North Korea. Dr Lewis guides listeners through the current North Korean crisis, examining the arms-control agreements that govern it, the global reactions, and the lessons to be learned. He also discusses the historical context of North Korea's nuclear program, including the impact of signing a deal with Kim Il-sung, which led to a pause in building two additional nuclear reactors. The episode also delves into Dr Lewis's career and perspectives on the Iraq War, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of arms-control issues in Northeast Asia and beyond. The Arms Control Poseur is a podcast series produced by The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC).  We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate, and subscribe to The Arms Control Poseur  on the podcast platform of your choice.  Date of Recording: 28 April 2023 The Arms Control Poseur is recorded and produced at the IISS in Berlin. Episode background reading:Kelsey Davenport, 'Chronology of U.S.-North Korean Nuclear and Missile Diplomacy, 1985-2022', Arms Control Association, April 2022: https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/dprkchron.    Siegfried S. Hecker, 'Lessons Learned from the North Korean Nuclear Crises,” Daedalus, Winter 2010, https://www.amacad.org/publication/lessons-learned-north-korean-nuclear-crises.    Łukasz Kulesa, “U.S. Extended Deterrence Weakened? Lessons Learned from the North Korean Crisis', The Polish Institute of International Affairs, 28 May 2013: https://www.nonproliferation.eu//wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Bulletin-PISM-no-57-510-28-May-2013.pdf.  Links: Funder: www.nonproliferation.eu/ IISS research programme: https://www.iiss.org/research/strategy-technology-and-arms-control/ Music: https://elysiumon37th.bandcamp.com/ ‘The Arms Control Primer’ is a podcast series produced by the IISS Strategy, Technology and Arms Control Programme on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the inaugural episode of The Arms Control Poseur, a thought-provoking podcast series brought to you by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC). This series delves into the intricate world of arms control, addressing critical issues related to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their delivery systems, as well as the impact of disruptive technologies on global security. In the first episode of the new podcast series, host William Alberque, the IISS expert in arms control, delves into the critical challenges and evolving landscape of global disarmament and non-proliferation. Join us as we explore the intricate balance of geopolitics, technology, and strategy. The Arms Control Poseur is a podcast series produced by The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC). We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate, and subscribe to The Arms Control Poseur on the podcast platform of your choice.   Date of Recording: 10 January 2023 The Arms Control Poseur is recorded and produced at the IISS in Berlin. Episode background reading:  ‘Arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation in NATO’, 27 February 2023, https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_48895.htm.  Michael Moodie and Jerry Zhang, ‘Bolstering Arms Control in a Contested Geopolitical Environment’, Stimson Center, 31 October 2022, https://www.stimson.org/2022/bolstering-arms-control-in-a-contested-geopolitical-environment/.  Sibylle Bauer, ‘New Technologies and Armament: Rethinking Arms Control’, Clingendael Spectator, 29 July 2020, https://spectator.clingendael.org/en/publication/new-technologies-and-armament-rethinking-arms-control.  Links: Funder: www.nonproliferation.eu/. IISS research programme: Strategy, Technology and Arms Control | IISS Research programme. Music: https://elysiumon37th.bandcamp.com. ‘The Arms Control Primer’ is a podcast series produced by the IISS Strategy, Technology and Arms Control Programme on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.