arms control

Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called on nuclear-armed states to return to negotiations, marking 35 years since the closure of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site. He warned that global arms-control safeguards are weakening, positioning Kazakhstan, which gave up its Soviet-era arsenal, as a voice for disarmament amid rising nuclear tensions.

Japan's Foreign Ministry held a missile non-proliferation workshop focused on the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCOC), paired with a site visit to the Hokkaido Spaceport. The event brought together participants to discuss norms against ballistic missile proliferation while showcasing Japan's commercial space launch facilities, linking arms-control diplomacy with the country's growing space sector.

Iraq's capital Baghdad held a popular and factional festival alongside an official ceremony in Palestine Square to celebrate National Sovereignty Day, marking the withdrawal of international and US combat forces from the country. The Iraqi government used the occasion to stress that weapons in the country remain under state control, a point of ongoing tension with armed factions.

A full-length documentary on the weaponization of space is drawing attention, examining how major powers are competing to develop military capabilities beyond Earth, from anti-satellite weapons to space-based defense systems. The film spotlights growing concerns that orbit is becoming the next arena of great-power rivalry, raising questions about arms control and the future of international space law.

The James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies is drawing attention to lessons from Los Alamos, the birthplace of the atomic bomb, for today's nuclear challenges. With renewed great-power rivalry, modernised arsenals and arms control treaties under strain, analysts argue the origins of the nuclear age still hold warnings for policymakers managing proliferation risks.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on the United States and Russia to open negotiations on a new nuclear arms treaty, warning that growing risks around nuclear weapons demand fresh agreements. With key Cold War-era arms control frameworks lapsing and tensions high over Ukraine, he urged the two largest nuclear powers to restore dialogue on limiting their arsenals.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a halt to tenure appointments for civilian faculty at US military academies. The move pauses career security for professors at institutions such as West Point, the Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy, and is being reported by military-focused outlets. It has drawn attention amid ongoing debates over political influence in military education and the Pentagon's management of academic staff.

The United Nations Secretary-General has urged renewed efforts toward nuclear disarmament, calling on states to advance measures aimed at reducing nuclear arsenals and the risk of nuclear conflict. The appeal comes amid ongoing tensions among nuclear-armed powers and stalled arms-control negotiations, with the UN chief stressing that disarmament remains central to international peace and security.

A new analysis argues that the artificial intelligence competition between the United States and China could prove more difficult to control than the Cold War nuclear arms race. Unlike nuclear weapons, AI development is diffuse, commercially driven and fast-moving, giving Washington and Beijing fewer clear levers for verification, treaties or mutual restraint, the report suggests.

The United Nations has extended the mandate of the Gang Suppression Force in Haiti through March 2027, as gang violence continues to intensify across the country. The decision reflects international concern over Haiti's worsening security crisis, where armed groups have expanded control and destabilised large parts of the capital and beyond, raising questions about the mission's long-term effectiveness.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has voiced urgency about abolishing nuclear weapons, warning of growing risks as global tensions persist. His appeal comes amid ongoing concerns over nuclear arsenals and arms control. The statement underscores his repeated calls for disarmament, though concrete steps by nuclear-armed states remain limited and debated.

The United Nations is holding a high-level meeting on the total elimination of nuclear weapons, with live coverage provided through its meetings and press releases service. Delegates and officials are addressing international efforts toward nuclear disarmament. The gathering draws attention amid ongoing global concerns over nuclear risks and arms control.

The United Nations has extended the mandate of the international security force supporting Haiti's government by six months, following a new wave of killings attributed to gangs. The decision comes as gang violence continues to overwhelm Haitian police, with armed groups controlling large parts of the capital and driving displacement and humanitarian crisis across the country.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on the United States and Russia to negotiate a replacement for the New START treaty, the last remaining nuclear arms reduction agreement between the two countries. His appeal highlights growing concern over the expiry of key arms control frameworks and rising nuclear tensions between Washington and Moscow.