CNS Subjects: Nuclear Weapons

Featured Nuclear Topics

Year: Present | 2001 | 2000 | 1990s

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Books

    Cover image Preventing Nuclear Meltdown: Managing Decentralization of Russia's Nuclear Complex
    Presents insights into both nuclear safety issues and post-Soviet intra-agency governance, as well as detailed case studies of critical nuclear regions: the Far East, the Urals, Siberia, and the Volga area. The volume also offers major new findings on the interface linking Russia's evolving center-periphery relations, its ailing nuclear facilities, and the role played by foreign assistance providers.
    By James Clay Moltz, Vladimir A. Orlov, and Adam N. Stulberg.
    Created: November 11, 2004

    Cover image
    The Four Faces of Nuclear Terrorism
    Warns that substandard security at nuclear facilities in Europe, Central Asia, Russia, and Pakistan increases the risk of terrorists seizing highly enriched uranium to make crude, but devastating, nuclear explosives.
    By Charles D. Ferguson, William C. Potter, Amy Sands, Leonard S. Spector, and Fred L. Wehling.
    Created: June 18, 2004
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General

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Americas

  • The Second Last Chance: American Power and Nuclear Nonproliferation
    An article by William C. Potter for The Chronicle of Higher Education.
    December 9, 2005

  • Overcoming Impediments to U.S.-Russian Cooperation on Nuclear Non-Proliferation: Report of a Joint Workshop
    A joint product of the U.S. National Academies (of which Dr. William Potter is a member) and the Russian Academy of Sciences.
    March 13, 2004

  • Congressional Debate on Nuclear Weapons Policy: From the Nuclear Brink to the Slippery Slope
    While this year's congressional debates touched on major issues affecting U.S. nuclear policy, members of Congress have yet to delve into a debate that really articulates what this policy should be. If such a debate occurred, it would probably not reach consensus.
    Research Story of the Week by Charles D. Ferguson.
    Week of October 27, 2003

  • New Nuclear Weapons?
    Will the United States produce newly designed nuclear weapons under the Bush Administration? Over the next couple of years, the answer will likely be "no." Recent activity, however, in Congress and the Administration has raised concern that the prospect of new U.S. nuclear weapons has increased.
    Research Story of the Week by Charles D. Ferguson and Peter D. Zimmerman.
    Week of May 28, 2003

  • Study Details Steps To Reduce Dirty Bomb Threat
    The interest of al Qaeda and other terrorist groups in radiological dispersal devices (RDDs) has caused policymakers to seek new measures to ensure these materials do not fall into the wrong hands.
    Research Story of the Week by Charles D. Ferguson.
    Week of January 13, 2003

  • Cuba's Accession to the NPT: A Step Toward Strengthening the Nuclear Nonproliferation Regime
    On September 14, the Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque announced to the United Nations General Assembly that his government will accede to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and will ratify the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco).
    Research Story of the Week by Jean Du Preez.
    Created: September 16, 2002

  • Plutonium Disposition
    The United States and Russia pledged to eliminate excess weapons-grade plutonium in order to prevent its theft or diversion for illegal nuclear programs and to prevent its reincorporation into their weapons programs. Plutonium is of the greatest concern because only 8 kilograms are needed to make a nuclear bomb. An issue brief by Elena Sokova for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI).
    Updated: July 2002

  • Renewed U.S. - Russian Controversy Over Nuclear Testing
    The uncertainty over the nature of activities at the Novaya Zemlya nuclear test site in northern Russia has frequently been a factor in U.S. government decisions on stockpile stewardship and participation in international treaties. The lack of transparency at the two countries' test sites has contributed to mutual suspicions and calls by some parties in both countries for the resumption of testing.
    Research Story of the Week by Michael Jasinski, Cristina Chuen, and Charles Ferguson.
    Created: May 27, 2002

  • "START III": An End Or Beginning of Negotiations
    "During their meeting on May 23-25, Presidents George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin will sign a new agreement on the reduction of strategic offensive weapons, often referred to -- especially in the Russian press -- as 'START III.'"
    Research Story of the Week by Nikolai Sokov.
    Created: May 14, 2002
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Middle East/Africa

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NIS

  • NIS Databases
    The NIS databases contain an extensive collection of information on the nuclear industry and on nonproliferation issues in the Newly Independent States of the former Soviet Union.
    Updated regularly

  • Reykjavik Summit: The Legacy and a Lesson for the Future
    An issue brief by Nikolai Sokov for the Nuclear Threat Initiative.
    Created: January 14, 2008

  • The International Uranium Enrichment Center at Angarsk: A Step Towards Assured Fuel Supply?
    An issue brief by Anya Loukianova for the Nuclear Threat Initiative.
    Created: January 14, 2008

  • Russian Military is Working to Enhance Precision Targeting and Early Warning Capabilities
    An article by Nikolai Sokov for WMD Insights.
    Created: December 6, 2007

  • CNS Researcher Speaks on Nuclear Terrorism at Russian Duma
    On September 27, an international seminar on Countering Nuclear and Radiological Terrorism was held at the Russian State Duma. CNS researcher Cristina Chuen provides an overview of the presentations and recommendations made at the event.
    A CNS Research Story by Cristina Chuen.
    Created: October 5, 2007

  • Russian Nuclear-Powered Submarine Dismantlement and Related Activities: A Critique
    A look at the development of the Strategic Master Plan for Northwest Russia (SMP), examining the perspectives that are informing the choice of project priorities, transparency issues, coordination, timing, and cost-effectiveness.
    A CNS Research Story by Cristina Hansell Chuen.
    Created: May 24, 2007

  • Russian Nuclear Industry Reforms: Consolidation and Expansion
    On April 27, 2007, the Russian president signed a decree ordering the creation of Atomenergoprom, an integrated corporation that will be the basis for the consolidation of Russia's nuclear industry, as well as expansion plans both at home and abroad.
    A CNS Research Story by Gaukhar Mukhatzhanova.
    Created: May 22, 2007

  • An Alleged "Nuclear Device" in Western Kazakhstan Is a Non-nuclear Installation
    On 14 February 2007, Kazakh parliamentarian Tokhtar Aubakirov announced Kazakhstan still possessed a nuclear explosive device. However, the device is actually a research installation for high-pressure physics experiments.
    A CNS Research Story by Gaukhar Mukhatzhanova.
    Created: February 23, 2006

  • Preventing the Next Chernobyl: The Item Missing from the St. Petersburg Summit
    A CNS opinion piece by Dr. William Potter.
    Created: July 18, 2006

  • Two CNS analysts, one from South Africa and one from Russia, give their perspectives on the Iranian nuclear crisis.

  • The Global Partnership and Submarine Dismantlement
    Dismantlement of nuclear-powered submarines in Russia is a priority for the G8's Global Partnership project. The following report outlines the current state of dismantlement efforts and recommendations.
    CNS Research Story by Cristina Chuen.
    June 8, 2004

  • Overcoming Impediments to U.S.-Russian Cooperation on Nuclear Non-Proliferation: Report of a Joint Workshop
    A joint product of the U.S. National Academies (of which Dr. William Potter is a member) and the Russian Academy of Sciences.
    March 13, 2004

  • "Suitcase Nukes:" Permanently Lost Luggage
    Although the allegations of al-Qaeda buying nuclear weapons from Ukraine are apparently groundless, it still seems advisable to continue closely monitoring the situation surrounding portable nuclear devices.
    CNS Research Story by Nikolai Sokov.
    Created: February 13, 2004

  • Russian Submarine Dismantlement Issues
    Russia's decommissioned nuclear-powered submarines continue to present serious proliferation-related and environmental threats. Without foreign support it would take Russia many years to handle the problem.
    Research Story of the Week by Cristina Chuen.
    Week of December 3, 2003

  • Russian Ministry of Defense's New Policy Paper: The Nuclear Angle
    In the end, the Ministry of Defense seems to believe that nothing but military power can guarantee Russia's security and interests, especially given the suspected propensity of the United States for unilateral, often not fully logical military escapades.
    A report by Nikolai Sokov.
    Created: October 10, 2003

  • Russia's Nuclear and Missile Technology Assistance to Iran
    Russian assistance for the Iranian nuclear program has long been an irritant in the U.S.-Russian relations. The revelations concerning Iran's hitherto unknown uranium enrichment efforts, which propelled Iran's nuclear ambitions to the center of the world's attention, added a new dimension to the controversy.
    By Michael Jasinski.
    Created: June 26, 2003

  • The Multilateral Nuclear Environmental Program in the Russian Federation (MNEPR)
    After four years of negotiations, the Multilateral Nuclear Environmental Program in the Russian Federation (MNEPR) Framework Agreement was signed in Stockholm on May 21, 2003.
    Report by Egil Tronstad and Cristina Chuen.
    June 5, 2003

  • The Duma Ratifies the Moscow Treaty
    On May 14, 2003 the State Duma, the lower house of the Federal Assembly (the Russian parliament), ratified the Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (also known as SORT or the Moscow Treaty) by 294 votes against 134 with 22 abstaining.
    Report by Nikolai Sokov.
    May 16, 2003

  • U.S. Efforts to Halt WMD Proliferation: Past Experience, Current Programs, and Future Priorities
    Testimony by Clay Moltz
    Subcommittees on Europe and on International Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Human Rights of the Committee on International Relations of the U.S. House of Representatives
    May 14, 2003

  • Little-Known Commercial Enterprise Poised to Take Over Russian Plutonium Disposition
    Securing funds for plutonium disposition was a challenge for Russia from the beginning.
    Research Story of the Week by Dauren Aben.
    Week of April 21, 2003

  • Russian Nuclear Exports to Iran: U.S. Policy Change Needed
    On March 29, the State Department is scheduled to report to Congress on nuclear proliferation prevention in Iran.[1] Part of the report is likely to focus on Russia's role in Iran's nuclear development.
    Research Story of the Week by Cristina Chuen.
    Week of March 27, 2003

  • Russian Spent Nuclear Fuel
    The Russian Ministry of Atomic Energy plans to commercially import, temporarily store, reprocess, and repatriate spent nuclear fuel (material that has been withdrawn from a nuclear reactor following irradiation, or SNF). Illegal until July 2001, opponents continue to protest against the project, and fight to amend Russian laws yet again.
    An issue brief by Cristina Chuen for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI).
    Created: February 26, 2003

  • Russian Responses to the North Korean Crisis
    Russian responses to the crisis in North Korea (DPRK) have ranged from strong concern about proliferation of nuclear weapons to sympathy for the North Korean viewpoint.
    Created: January 24, 2003

  • Central Asian States Achieve Breakthrough on Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty
    "In a major step strengthening the global nuclear nonproliferation regime, diplomats from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan have agreed on the text of a treaty establishing a Central Asian nuclear weapon-free zone (CANWFZ)."
    Research Story of the Week by Scott Parrish.
    Week of September 30, 2002

  • "Suitcase Nukes": A Reassessment
    Attention to portable nuclear devices ("suitcase nukes") peaked in 1997-early 1998 following well-publicized allegations that an unknown number of these weapons could not be accounted for. This paper assesses the threat that a number of them could have fallen into the hands of terrorists or states that support them.
    Research Story of the Week.
    Week of September 23, 2002

  • John Wolf Interview: Details on G-8 Global Partnership Against the Spread of WMD
    On August 28, Assistant Secretary of State for Nonproliferation John Wolf spoke with CNS, regarding the agreement reached at the June 26-27 Kananaskis G-8 Summit to launch a Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction.
    Research Story of the Week by Leonard Spector.
    Week of September 9, 2002

  • Ghost of Russia's K-19 Haunts Us
    The K-19 is still with us, one of 190 decommissioned Soviet nuclear-powered submarines rusting at their piers. As many as 100 of them still have nuclear fuel on board, risking a reactor incident or diversion of material for a terrorist radiation weapon or "dirty bomb."
    An op-ed by Cristina Chuen for the Los Angeles Times.
    Created: July 19, 2002

  • Plutonium Disposition
    The United States and Russia pledged to eliminate excess weapons-grade plutonium in order to prevent its theft or diversion for illegal nuclear programs and to prevent its reincorporation into their weapons programs. Plutonium is of the greatest concern because only 8 kilograms are needed to make a nuclear bomb. An issue brief by Elena Sokova for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI).
    Updated: July 2002

  • Russian Floating Nuclear Reactors - Proliferation Risks
    For the past 10 years, high-ranking officials from Russia's Ministry of Atomic Energy (Minatom) and Rosenergoatom have been expressing unequivocal support for construction of floating nuclear power plants in remote areas of the Russian Far North and East. Construction of Russia's first floating nuclear power plants is moving ahead.
    Research Story of the Week by Eduard Fesko.
    Created: June 26, 2002

  • Challenges in U.S.-Russian Cooperation
    Paper by William C. Potter presented at the Conference on Cooperative Threat Reduction in the 21st Century, Oslo, Norway (June 1, 2002)
    June 14, 2002

  • Russian Exports of Sensitive Equipment and Technology
    Testimony by Leonard S. Spector
    Senate Governmental Affairs Committee
    Subcommittee on International Security, Proliferation, and Federal Services
    June 10, 2002

  • Renewed U.S. - Russian Controversy Over Nuclear Testing
    The uncertainty over the nature of activities at the Novaya Zemlya nuclear test site in northern Russia has frequently been a factor in U.S. government decisions on stockpile stewardship and participation in international treaties. The lack of transparency at the two countries' test sites has contributed to mutual suspicions and calls by some parties in both countries for the resumption of testing.
    Research Story of the Week by Michael Jasinski, Cristina Chuen, and Charles Ferguson.
    Created: May 27, 2002

  • "START III": An End Or Beginning of Negotiations
    "During their meeting on May 23-25, Presidents George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin will sign a new agreement on the reduction of strategic offensive weapons, often referred to -- especially in the Russian press -- as 'START III.'"
    Research Story of the Week by Nikolai Sokov.
    Created: May 14, 2002

  • Yadernoe Nerasprostranenie (Nuclear Nonproliferation)
    A college-level Russian-language textbook, edited by Vladimir Orlov and CNS Senior Research Associate Nikolai Sokov, published 2000.
    Created: May 1, 2002

  • Workshop on Russian Nuclear Regionalism and U.S. Policy
    On April 5, 2002, the Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) at the Monterey Institute of International Studies held a workshop in Washington, D.C., on the topic of "Russian 'Nuclear Regionalism' and Challenges for U.S. Nonproliferation Assistance Programs."
    Created: April 16, 2002

  • Russian Military Violating Nuclear Safety and Inventory Rules by Shipping Damaged Fuel
    Research Story of the Week.
    Created: March 25, 2002

  • Greater Attention Pledged to Russian Triad's Naval Leg
    Research Story of the Week.
    Created: March 4, 2002

  • Illicit Nuclear Trafficking in the NIS
    The events of September 11, 2001 have intensified concern that terrorist groups will attempt to steal weapons-useable nuclear material in order to build a nuclear weapon. Although stocks of these materials—plutonium and highly-enriched uranium (HEU)—exist in many countries around the world, the largest inventory in the world is held in the Newly Independent States of the former Soviet Union (NIS). Owing to economic and political turmoil, this material is vulnerable to theft. An issue brief by Scott Parrish for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI).
    Created: March 2002

  • Russia to Lease Two Nuclear Submarines to India
    Research Story of the Week.
    Created: February 18, 2002
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East Asia

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South Asia

Year: Present-2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999-