DefenceTalkNATO on Monday launched its regular nuclear deterrence drills in western Europe, after tensions soared with Russia over President Vladimir Putin’s veiled threats in the face of setbacks in Ukraine. The 30-nation alliance has stressed that the “routine, recurring training activity” — which runs until October 30 — was planned before Moscow invaded Ukraine and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nato-holds-routine-nuclear-drill-amid-russia-tensions-79527/

DefenceTalkDoomsday could start with a football — the so-called “nuclear football” as the attache case carried wherever the US president goes is popularly known. The rather awkwardly stuffed black bag doesn’t look like much, the only clue to its importance being that it never leaves the hand of a uniformed military aide. But inside are […]https://www.defencetalk.com/from-football-to-biscuits-how-biden-would-launch-nukes-79497/

DefenceTalkNorth Korea’s recent missile tests involved “tactical nuclear” drills to simulate hitting the South, and were overseen by leader Kim Jong Un in response to US-led joint military exercises in the region, state media said Monday. Kim made acquiring tactical nukes — smaller, lighter weapons designed for battlefield use — a top priority at a […]https://www.defencetalk.com/north-korea-recent-tests-tactical-nuclear-drills-79483/

DefenceTalkNorth Korea’s Kim Jong Un declaring he will never give up his nukes and enshrining a “first-strike” doctrine into law are part of a worrying new escalatory dynamic in nuclear weapons policy around the world, analysts say. Since the height of the Cold War, nuclear arsenals have served primarily as a deterrent to be used […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nuclear-shift-north-korean-nuke-law-reflects-global-trend-79432/

DefenceTalkNorth Korea has passed a law declaring its readiness to launch preventive nuclear strikes, including in the face of conventional attacks, state media said Friday. The move effectively eliminates the possibility of denuclearisation talks, with leader Kim Jong Un saying the country’s status as a nuclear state was now “irreversible”. The announcement comes at a […]https://www.defencetalk.com/north-korea-law-makes-nuclear-program-irreversible-79372/

DefenceTalkThe United States and South Korea began their biggest combined military drills since 2018 on Monday, Seoul said — a move likely to enrage North Korea, which has been ramping up its nuclear threats. Washington is Seoul’s key security ally and stations about 28,500 troops in South Korea to protect it from its nuclear-armed neighbor. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-south-korea-begin-biggest-joint-military-drills-since-2018-79246/

DefenceTalkThe European Union said Tuesday it was studying Iran’s response to a “final” draft agreement on reviving a 2015 nuclear accord with major powers it presented at talks in Vienna. The United States had already said Monday that it was informing EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell of its response to the text he submitted […]https://www.defencetalk.com/eu-says-mulling-iran-response-to-final-nuclear-text-79206/

DefenceTalkNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country was “ready to mobilize” its nuclear deterrent in any future military clash with the United States and South Korea, state media said Thursday. Washington and Seoul have repeatedly warned that Pyongyang is preparing to carry out its seventh nuclear test — a move that the United […]https://www.defencetalk.com/north-koreas-kim-says-ready-to-mobilize-nuclear-weapons-79147/

DefenceTalkIran has the technical capacity to build a nuclear weapon but has not taken a decision to do so, an official told the Al Jazeera broadcaster on Sunday. Iran “has the technical ability to build a nuclear bomb” said Kamal Kharrazi, who heads an advisory board linked to Iran’s leadership. But Tehran has “not made […]https://www.defencetalk.com/iran-has-technical-ability-to-build-nuclear-bomb-official-79094/

DefenceTalkThe number of nuclear weapons in the world is set to rise in the coming decade after 35 years of decline as global tensions flare amid Russia’s war in Ukraine, researchers said Monday. The nine nuclear powers — Britain, China, France, India, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, the United States and Russia — had 12,705 nuclear […]https://www.defencetalk.com/world-headed-for-new-era-of-nuclear-rearmament-sipri-78955/