Russia officially withdraws from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe

On Tuesday, Moscow has formally withdrawn from an international security pact that restricts the use of conventional weapons. Russia pulled out of the landmark pact almost a week after President Vladimir Putin had revoked the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that the treaty did not meet Russia’s interests, adding that NATO expansion made such co-operation impossible.

“Even the formal preservation of the CFE Treaty has become unacceptable from the point of view of Russia’s fundamental security interests.”

The CTBT is an international treaty that bans nuclear weapons tests and any other nuclear explosions. The treaty has not entered into force: The US, India, Egypt, North Korea, China and Pakistan have neither signed nor ratified it.

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Rusia Revoca Tratado de Prohibición de Pruebas Nucleares en Pleno Conflicto con Ucrania

El presidente ruso, Vladimir Putin, firmó el jueves una ley que revoca la ratificación de Rusia de un importante tratado de prohibición de pruebas nucleares, una acción que indica que Moscú continúa ignorando las restricciones nucleares en medio de su guerra con Ucrania. Los medios de comunicación estatales rusos informaron sobre la firma de la ley por parte de Putin, la cual fue aprobada por el…

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2023 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) Workshop at UN Headquarters.

The workshop will increase awareness and stimulates understanding of the Treaty and promote its entry into force and universalization. The training would include lectures and discussions on specific aspects of the CTBT and related issues relevant to the work of the Organization.

Brief history of the CTBT negotiations

Evolution of seismic monitoring

The International Monitoring System

The International Data Centre

On-Site Inspections

The Provisional Technical Secretariat and the Preparatory Commission

The sustainability of the verification regime

The Article XIV Process

Legal aspects of the Treaty

National Implementation Measures

The role of the CTBT in international peace and security

Monitoring and reporting on the DPRK nuclear tests

Civil and scientific applications of monitoring data, including NDC4All initiative

Knowledge exchange between science and diplomacy

Reinvigorating strategic support for the CTBT and the importance of preparing the next generation of leaders and policy makers in all aspects of the CTBT

Expanding the pool of expertise to the New York based disarmament experts to increase active engagement on the critical issues underpinning the Treaty

Promoting leadership among diplomats whose political influence may sway decisions in favour of entry into force.

Upcoming training and capacity building activities

PTS staffing and human resources

Financing the CTBTO

20 Years Of India’s Nuclear Doctrine: Does Delhi Need To Reset Its Nuke Policy With Growing Economic & Military Might

By N. C. Bipindra for EurAsian Times India officially declared itself a nuclear weapons state in May 1998 following the ‘Shakti’ nuclear tests in the Rajasthan desert, popularly called Pokhran-II. But it spelled out its official nuclear doctrine for the first time publicly in January 2003 through a media statement issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) after a meeting of the Cabinet…

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Extensive damage to an undersea gas pipeline and communications cable connecting Finland and Estonia “could not have occurred by accident” and appears to be the result of a “deliberate … external act”, Finnish authorities have said.

“It is likely that the damage to both the gas pipeline and the communication cable is the result of external activity,” the Finnish president, Sauli Niinistö, said on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday, adding that the cause of the damage was not yet clear.

Local media cited unnamed government sources as saying Russian sabotage was suspected, while regional security experts said a Russian survey vessel had recently been observed making repeated visits to the vicinity of the Balticconnector pipeline.

Niinistö said the government was “in contact with our allies and partners” and that Finland was “prepared, and our readiness is good”, adding that the incident, uncovered early on Sunday morning, had “no effect on our energy supply security”.

Nato’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, said the transatlantic military alliance was “ready to share information about the destruction of Finnish and Estonian underwater infrastructure” and to “support its allies”.

Markku Hassinen, of the Finnish border guard, said no seismic activity had been recorded in the Gulf of Finland before the discovery of the Balticconnector damage, but “vessels from several different countries” had been monitored in the area. But seismologists at Norsar, Norway’s national datacentre for the comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty (CTBT), confirmed late on Tuesday that they had registered a “probable explosion” at 1.20 am on Sunday.

Both countries’ gas network operators on Sunday reported an unusual drop in pressure in the bi-directional, 48-mile (77km) pipeline, which runs across the seabed of the Gulf of Finland from Inkoo in Finland to Paldiski in Estonia. The state-owned Finnish operator, Gasgrid, said the pipeline had been shut down immediately because of a suspected leak, adding that the country’s gas system was stable, with supply secured through a floating liquefied fossil gas terminal.

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So I read that one post about the rights of the children in the us and i'm reading a lot of international law (environmental and human rights mostly), so i was inspired to take some screenshots about the country of the brave and land of the free, or whatever they're branding their shithole country to be:

in order, we have CRPD, Kyoto Protocol, CRC, Paris Agreement, CTBT and CEDAW. My favorite, though, is this next one, ACHR, which translates to American Convention of Human Rights.

And they dare say anything to the rest of the world.

The US also carries out regular nuclear drills. Tactical nuclear arms are battlefield weapons that, while devastating, have a smaller yield compared to long-range strategic weapons.

i'm already tired of this point-by-point recap of everything i was harassed for saying last year, but i guess it's also a relief to see it printed

if you're looking for comparable US drills it would be the lgm35a sentinel, which was called the GBSD during the funding and construction portion of its development, slated to replace the minuteman III missiles currently residing in our nuclear silos

it seems this was most recently tested march 2023 in promontory, utah, or perhaps more recently than that, but the nature of nuclear policy is that unless a military website reports on it or a test site administrator tweets about it, we don't know the schedule

what people typically think of as "nuclear tests" are explosive warhead tests. these, on the other hand, are unarmed missile launch system tests. to add insult to complexity, our only publicly-admitted warhead testing is subcritical, meaning non-explosive tests (to put the finest possible point on it, this may involve shockwaves from other detonating charges, but the warhead itself does not detonate). subcritical tests are designed to verify the function of the aging stockpile, many of which are literally caked in sewage from the poorly maintained state of the silos

as i have said before, accepting a nuclear silo has, historically, often been the only way to get roads and infrastructure in a large portion of the rural united states. this is a large factor in why they remain politically expeditious, even among people who would probably not consider themselves warmongers. because two dozen small towns never would have gotten a tacobell without military presence

all this to say: like it or not, you're all coming down to my hell with me. you can ignore it, you can refuse to believe me, and you could make me shut up about it for another year. which would change nothing. but if somebody else could take up the mantle for once, i'd sure fucking appreciate it, because i can tell that my inability to talk about it without breaking down from shouldering the emotional reactions of a thousand willfully ignorant people in denial at once, is not helping to advance the discussion!

News Roundup 11/6/2023 | The Libertarian Institute

Here is your daily roundup of today's news:

News Roundup 11/6/2023

by Kyle Anzalone

Ukraine 

Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Gen. Valery Zaluzhny acknowledged in comments to The Economist that the war in Ukraine is a stalemate and that there will “most likely” be no Ukrainian breakthrough. AWC

A top Ukrainian official said Kiev is seeking to become one of the largest arms manufacturers in the world. The statement comes as the Biden administration has begun pushing Ukraine to engage in talks with Russia on ending the war. Ukraine developing a large weapons industry and selling those arms to the enemies of Russia will likely interfere with any deals to end the conflict. The Institute

The US rolled out its 50th weapons package for Ukraine. The arms shipment will include air defenses, artillery rounds, and anti-armor weapons. The Pentagon will purchase $300 million in arms on behalf of Kyiv, depleting all the funds in the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). AWC

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday signed a bill into law that formally withdrew Russia’s ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). AWC

Israel

During a trip to Israel, America’s top diplomat pushed Tel Aviv to agree to limited “humanitarian pauses” to allow aid into Gaza and facilitate negotiations for Hamas to release prisoners. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said there would not be a temporary pause in the fighting. AWC

Despite the massive bombing campaign and ground invasion in Gaza, a senior Pentagon official believes Israel has not come close to taking out Hamas’s leadership, The New York Times reported Saturday. AWC

The Pentagon has acknowledged that the US is flying drones over Gaza to help Israel locate hostages, demonstrating deep US involvement in the war. AWC

Israel’s Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu on Sunday said that dropping a nuclear bomb on the Gaza Strip was an option for Israel and claimed there are no innocent civilians in the enclave. AWC

The House on Thursday passed a bill to provide Israel with $14.3 billion in military aid, a strong show of support for the Israeli onslaught on Gaza, which has killed over 9,000 people so far. AWC

Twenty-seven days into Israel’s brutal bombing campaign, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) became the first member of the US Senate to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. AWC

Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL), a former member of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), dismissed the idea there are “innocent Palestinian civilians” in a debate on the House floor. AWC

Middle East

The House on Wednesday passed a resolution that suggested the US would use force against Iran in the future in the name of preventing the country from acquiring nuclear weapons. AWC

Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unannounced visit to Iraq on Sunday amid a spate of attacks on US troops in the region over US support for Israel’s onslaught on Gaza. AWC

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ロシアの包括的核実験禁止条約機関（CTBTO）準備委員会のウリヤノフ特使は6日、ロシアのCTBTの批准を撤回する計画を発表した。プーチン大統領は5日の演説で、CTBTの批准を取り消す可能性を示唆し、核実験再開の可能性を示唆していた。CTBTは地下や宇宙空間を含む全ての核実験を禁止する内容だが、米国や中国などが批准していないため、条約は未発効のままとなっていた（時事ドットコム、読売新聞、NHK）。 ウリヤノフ特使は、撤回は核実験再開の意図を持つものではなく、米国との平等な地位を確立するためのものだと説明している。さらにロシアの下院議長、ビャチェスラフ・ウォロジンは9日、CTBTの批准を取り消す可能性を検討するように下院国際問題委員会に18日までに求めたとされる。実際の動きとしては、ロシアの北極海にあるノバヤゼムリャ島の核実験場で施設の拡張が進められていると報じられている。この動きは、ロシアがウクライナ侵略を進め、核の威嚇を使って米欧を揺さぶり、ウクライナへの軍事支援を遅らせる意図があると見られている。

ロシア、包括的核実験禁止条約の批准を撤回か | スラド

Putin revoca la firma sui trattati nucleari che li mette al bando

Con un tempismo perfetto, il presidente a vita Vladimir Putin ha firmato la legge che revoca la ratifica della Russia del trattato sulla messa al bando degli esperimento nucleari, noto come CTBT. Il CTBT fu adottato durante la 50ª sessione dell’Assemblea generale delle Nazioni Unite il 10 settembre 1996 e aperto alla firma il 24 settembre 1996.     (2 novembre 2023) ©gaiaitalia.com 2023 – diritti…

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In this article, we will be looking at 10 countries with most nuclear weapons in the world. If you want to skip our detailed analysis of the global defense market, you can go directly to 5 Countries with Most Nuclear Weapons in the World.The global defense industry is a rapidly growing industry. Countries around the world are investing in weapons and military equipment, with some nations investing heavily in nuclear weapons modernization and development. Nuclear deterrence remains a cornerstone of national security strategies, and this is creating significant opportunities for businesses involved in the weapons supply chain.The Global Defense Industry: Key Trends and DevelopmentsSeveral nations and international organizations are actively making efforts to dismantle the existing nuclear arsenal while also putting a ban on the design, development, and testing of nuclear bombs and missiles. Despite such efforts, a number of states around the world allocate a notable budget towards the acquisition, maintenance, and development of nuclear weapons.While the nuclear weapons market is specifically focused on the development, production, and maintenance of nuclear weapons, it is a subset of the defense industry. The defense industry encompasses the development, production, and maintenance of weapons and equipment used by militaries around the world. According to a report by Business Research Insights, the global defense market’s value was estimated to be worth $2.15 trillion in 2021. The defense market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5% during 2021-2027, pushing the market to reach $2.89 trillion by the end of the forecast period.In one of our previous articles about countries that export the most weapons in the world, we mentioned that technological advancements, government initiatives, military modernization programs, and growing internal and external security threats are all factors creating a positive outlook for the global defense market. Moreover, growing geopolitical tensions, especially between nuclear forces, such as the US, Russia, and China are driving market growth.Story continuesOn November 2, Reuters reported that the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, signed a law to revoke Russia’s ratification of the global treaty banning nuclear testing. The report mentions that some Western arms control experts fear that Russia may be looking to test nuclear weapons in an attempt to intimidate and create fear in the middle of the Russia-Ukraine war. However, Russian diplomats have said that Russia will not resume nuclear weapons tests unless the United States does. Moscow also said that its pulling out of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) is only to bring Russia in line with the US, which signed but never ratified the treaty.According to a publication by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), nine states with nuclear weapons spent $82.9 billion in 2022. The Russian invasion of Ukraine also began in 2022. The spending witnessed an overall increase of $2.5 billion from the previous year. The US spent around $43.7 billion in 2022, which is more than the spending of all the other nuclear armed states combined.A report by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) also shows that the total global military expenditure increased by 3.7% to reach a record high of $2.24 trillion in 2022. The US, China, and Russia, were the three biggest spenders as they accounted for about 56% of the world’s total expenditure. The three of the largest spending countries also have some of the strongest armies in the world. Increased spending on weapons and equipment means that there are significant opportunities for corporations operating in the defense industry.Major Players in the Global Defense IndustryThe prominent players operating in the global defense industry include L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:LHX), Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC), and Raytheon Technologies Corporation (NYSE:RTX).

Based in the US, Raytheon Technologies Corporation (NYSE:RTX) is one of the largest aerospace and defense corporations in the world. On October 26, Raytheon Technologies Corporation (NYSE:RTX) announced that it is teaming up with Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to build a manufacturing facility in East Camden, Arkansas, for the production of the Tamir missile for Israel’s Iron Dome Weapon System and its US variant, SkyHunter. The two companies have committed to a $33 million capital investment to construct the new facility. The facility, when operational, will produce missiles for the US Marine Corps as well as other allied partners.On November 2, L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:LHX) announced that it has been awarded a contract worth $80 million from the US Navy to continue developing advanced systems to modernize electronic warfare (EW) capabilities on F/A-18 aircraft. Under the contract, L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:LHX) will be developing a next generation electronic warfare (EW) system for the Navy’s F/A-18 fleet while also upgrading pilot protection against emerging and future threats. The announcement also mentions that L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:LHX) has been providing innovative EW capabilities to the US Air Force as well as to other allied air services around the world for more than 60 years.Winning defense contracts can generate significant revenue for defense companies. On September 25, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) announced that it has been awarded an approximately $705 million contract by the US Air Force to deliver the Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW), an air-to-ground missile. During the next 3 years, the Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) will further develop the Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW) and conduct platform integration while also completing the flight test program for rapid prototyping in preparation for rapid fielding.On October 26, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) reported strong earnings for the fiscal third quarter of 2023. The company reported earnings per share (EPS) of $6.18, surpassing EPS estimates by $0.38. The company reported a revenue of $9.78 billion and outperformed revenue estimates by $218.17 million.Now that we have looked at what some of the major companies in the defense industry are up to, let’s take a look at 10 countries with most nuclear weapons in the world.10 Countries with Most Nuclear Weapons in the WorldCopyright: scanrail / 123RF Stock PhotoMethodologyIn this article, we have ranked 10 countries with most nuclear weapons in the world. To compile a list of countries with nuclear weapons, we consulted the Federation of American Scientists. This database provided us with a list of nine countries and their estimated nuclear warhead inventories. We also used a separate publication by the Federation of American Scientists that provided us with data on the 5 NATO members that host US nuclear weapons on their territory and their respective shares. We narrowed down our selection to rank 10 countries with most nuclear weapons in the world based on the number of nuclear warheads, which are listed below in ascending order.10 Countries with Most Nuclear Weapons in the World10. North KoreaNuclear Warheads: 30First up on our list of 10 countries with most nuclear weapons in the world is North Korea with an estimated 30 nuclear warheads. To demonstrate its nuclear capabilities, North Korea conducted its first nuclear test underground on October 9, 2006. All 30 nuclear warheads of North Korea are believed to be non-deployed and in the custody of the military.Some of the top companies in the global defense industry to consider researching and investing in include L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:LHX), Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC), and Raytheon Technologies Corporation (NYSE:RTX).9. ItalyNuclear Warheads: 35Italy is the only country in our list of 10 countries with most nuclear weapons in the world that does not produce or possess nuclear weapons of its own.

Instead, Italy is one of five NATO members that host US nuclear warheads on their territory as part of a nuclear-sharing agreement. According to a publication by the Federation of American Scientists, Italy hosts 35 nuclear weapons as of 2022. Italy hosts the highest number of nuclear warheads out of the 5 NATO members that host US nuclear weapons on their territory.8. IsraelNuclear Warheads: 90Israel does not admit nor deny having nuclear weapons, but it is universally believed to possess weapons of mass destruction. It is believed to be a nuclear-armed country despite not being recognized as a Nuclear Weapons State by the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Estimates made by the US intelligence community suggest that Israel has a nuclear stockpile of approximately 90 warheads.7. IndiaNuclear Warheads: 164In 1974, India tested its first nuclear device as a peaceful nuclear explosion. According to the most recent reported data, India has an estimated 164 nuclear warheads. All the nuclear warheads of India are non-deployed and in the custody of the military.6. PakistanNuclear Warheads: 170Pakistan became a nuclear weapon state when it conducted nuclear tests in May 1998, almost 24 years after India's first nuclear test. India and Pakistan have a complex and often hostile relationship, despite the fact that both the countries are nuclear powers. With an estimated 170 nuclear warheads, Pakistan ranks higher than India on our list of 10 countries with most nuclear weapons in the world. Pakistan and India are also among the nations that are thought to be increasing their stockpiles.L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:LHX), Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC), and Raytheon Technologies Corporation (NYSE:RTX) are some of the leading manufacturers of advanced weapons and military equipment.Click to continue reading and see 5 Countries with Most Nuclear Weapons in the World.Suggested Articles:Disclosure: None. 10 Countries with Most Nuclear Weapons in the World is published on Insider Monkey.

Russia to withdraw from nuclear test ban treaty

Russia’s upper house of parliament on Wednesday approved the country’s withdrawal from the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), more than a week after the country’s lower house held a similar vote.

The Federation Council of the Russian Federation issued a statement:

 “The decision was made in order to restore parity of obligations in the field of nuclear arms control.”

First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs Sergey Kislyak claimed:

“Russia remains a state that signed the treaty with all the ensuing rights and obligations. The cancellation of ratification does not weaken the constructive approach to the CTBT, but restores the parity of obligations in relations with the US in the field of nuclear arms control.”

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[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Wire.] By Mark B. Schneider Real Clear Wire The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty is a multilateral arms control Treaty negotiated in the mid-1990s which sought to ban all nuclear weapons tests. In October 2023,...

Putin signs decree revoking Russia's ratification of Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Thursday, 2 November, which revokes Russia’s ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). On October 17 and October 18, members Source : www.uawire.org/putin-sig…

#Breaking: #Russia’s Planned #Withdrawal of Its #CTBT Ratification

Russia’s Planned Withdrawal of Its CTBT Ratification 11/02/2023 01:30 PM EDT Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State We are deeply concerned by Russia’s planned action to withdraw its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). Unfortunately, it represents a significant step in the wrong direction, taking us further from, not closer to, entry into force. Russia’s action will…

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