Nuclear Non-Proliferation: A Tripartite Perspective of the United States, Russia, and the Adelphi 464 Report

The proliferation of nuclear weapons poses a grave threat to global security. As major nuclear powers, the United States and Russia have played a pivotal role in efforts to prevent the spread of these devastating weapons. This article explores their perspectives on nuclear non-proliferation, examining the key insights and recommendations put forward in the Adelphi 464 report, a seminal study on the subject.

Once and Future Partners: The United States, Russia and Nuclear Non-proliferation (Adelphi Book 464)

by Robert M. Farley

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Language	:	English
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The United States

The United States has long maintained a strong commitment to nuclear non-proliferation. Its approach is based on the belief that the spread of nuclear weapons increases the risk of nuclear war, undermines international stability, and fuels regional conflicts. The US has pursued a range of measures to prevent proliferation, including diplomatic initiatives, economic sanctions, military threats, and nuclear disarmament.

One of the key pillars of US non-proliferation policy is the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT),which entered into force in 1970. The NPT divides the world into nuclear-weapon states (NWS) and non-nuclear-weapon states (NNWS). NWS are prohibited from transferring nuclear weapons or technology to NNWS, while NNWS undertake not to develop or acquire nuclear weapons.

The US has also promoted nuclear disarmament. In 1985, President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev agreed to the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which eliminated an entire class of nuclear weapons. President Barack Obama pursued a New START Treaty with Russia in 2010, which reduced the number of deployed nuclear warheads by approximately 30%.

Russia

Russia shares the US's concerns about nuclear proliferation but views certain aspects of non-proliferation efforts differently. Russia emphasizes the importance of nuclear disarmament as a parallel objective to non-proliferation. It argues that without progress on disarmament, non-proliferation measures can be seen as one-sided and discriminatory against non-nuclear states.

Russia has also expressed concerns about the US's unilateral withdrawal from the INF Treaty in 2019, which it views as a significant setback to arms control. Russia maintains that the treaty was an effective mechanism for preventing the proliferation of intermediate-range nuclear forces.

Adelphi 464

The Adelphi 464 report, published by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in 2014, provided a comprehensive assessment of the nuclear non-proliferation landscape. The report made several key recommendations, including:

• Strengthening the NPT and promoting universal adherence
• Pursuing a phased approach to nuclear disarmament, with a focus on reducing the number of warheads and delivery systems
• Addressing the underlying motivations for nuclear proliferation, such as regional security concerns and the desire for prestige
• Promoting nuclear security, including measures to prevent nuclear materials from falling into the wrong hands

Convergence and Divergence

While there are areas of convergence between the US, Russia, and the Adelphi 464 report, there are also some points of divergence. All three parties agree on the importance of nuclear non-proliferation, but they differ on the relative emphasis placed on disarmament and non-proliferation. The US places greater emphasis on non-proliferation, while Russia prioritizes disarmament.

Another area of divergence is the issue of verification. The US favors strict verification measures to ensure compliance with non-proliferation agreements, while Russia has expressed concerns that overly intrusive verification could infringe on national sovereignty. The Adelphi 464 report calls for a balanced approach to verification, balancing the need for confidence-building with the need to avoid unnecessary intrusions.

Nuclear non-proliferation remains a critical challenge for the international community. The United States, Russia, and the Adelphi 464 report offer valuable insights and recommendations for addressing this complex issue. While there are areas of convergence and divergence among these three perspectives, they share a common goal: preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons and promoting a safer and more secure world.

Image Alt Attributes

* Image 1: A map of the world with nuclear weapon states highlighted * Image 2: A graph showing the number of nuclear warheads in the world over time * Image 3: A photo of diplomats negotiating a nuclear non-proliferation agreement

Once and Future Partners: The United States, Russia and Nuclear Non-proliferation (Adelphi Book 464)

by Robert M. Farley

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	531 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	359 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE