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A Brief Analysis of Iranian Global Relations Part II: China, India, IAEA

April 20, 2012 by Emily Leave a Comment

In my previous post, I discussed two groups dealing with the Iranian nuclear problem: that which actively supports sanctions and that which objects to them. The issue, however, is not black and white: between the countries that actively support unilateral and multilateral sanctions and those that staunchly condemn them lies a third group of quasi-supporters that privately limit their financial interaction with Iran, despite public condemnations of Western sanctions. China and India (two of the five BRIC countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: Brazil, China, EU, Government, human rights, India, Iran, nuclear, nuclear weapons, oil, reform, Russia, sanctions, South Africa, trade

A Brief Analysis of Iranian Global Relations Part I: EU, Brazil, Russia, South Africa

April 12, 2012 by Emily Leave a Comment

America’s recent responses to Iran’s nuclear program have stirred debate in the international community. Some condone America’s struggle with the Islamic Republic by supporting sanctions and oil embargoes; others denounce American imperialism and refuse to support sanctions. The European Union countries and, surprisingly, the previously Iran-backing countries of Brazil and South Africa, belong to the first group that condemns Iran’s nuclear program. In an April 6, 2012 Al Arabiya article, “Iran’s Moment of Truth,” Hassan Barari discussed … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, economy, EU, Europe, foreign policy, Greece, human rights violations, Iran, Latin America, Mexico, nuclear, oil, Russia, sanctions, security, South Africa, trade

New START without nuclear weapons

April 5, 2012 by Ana Ila Leave a Comment

On April 8, 2010, President Obama signed the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), a treaty between the United States and Russia regulating the buildup of nuclear weapons. The treaty entered into force in 2011. New START is a beginning of a new chapter, a “new step,” after the Cold War as the US faces new challenges in foreign affairs. There are benefits to the New START. According to Lindborg, ratification of New START signified a shift in nuclear arms control and an improvement in severely damaged Russian-U.S. relations. The cap was … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: Cold War, New START, nuclear weapons, Russia

US foreign policy and responses: Sanctions on Iran

April 5, 2012 by Ana Ila Leave a Comment

On December 31, President Obama imposed sanctions on Iran because of its nuclear weapons program, and since then, responses from other countries have been mixed. BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) have mostly refused to follow the US in public, but meanwhile secretly heed the US calls. Whereas power balance in terms of oil production might change, it is yet to be seen how much of a change this will generate and who will benefit from it. In January, Emily Burlinghaus argued that US sanctions would be influential in influencing Iran’s … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: Brazil, China, EU, India, Russia, South Africa

Recent summit raises questions about North Korea’s growing nuclear program

January 13, 2012 by Emily 1 Comment

A summit the week of January 9 between South Korea and China raised discussion about a free trade agreement, diplomatic relations, and perhaps most importantly, North Korea’s nuclear program. As the two countries discuss the importance of a bilateral trade agreement, they will undoubtedly examine ways to confront the growing problem of North Korean nuclear proliferation. While both countries want peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula, their views diverge on how to achieve these goals. Beijing’s foremost concern is protecting its own … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: aid, China, Food Aid, free trade, Government, humanitarian aid, Japan, North Korea, nuclear, nuclear proliferation, Peace, policy, refugee, Russia, sanctions, United States

What do you want to see from the upcoming G8 Summit?

May 25, 2011 by Rachel Merker Leave a Comment

This week, the leaders of the world’s eight most powerful economies—known as the Group of 8 or G8—will meet in Deauville, France, for the 37th annual G8 Summit. The G8, which includes France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, Germany, Japan, Italy and Canada, was initially formed in 1975 to respond to the worldwide recession created by the first oil crisis. Since then, the G8 Summit has been a forum for these nations to come together to address global economic issues. Over time, that discussion has evolved to include matters such as … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Climate Change, Featured Less, Hunger Tagged With: aid, China, Climate Change, economy, energy security, Europe, foreign aid, G20, G8, global peace and security, globalization, Hunger, Japan, new media, nuclear, Russia, United States

President Medvedev on Iran Nuclear Program

February 1, 2011 by Michael Miner

It should come as no surprise that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev publicly stated there is no evidence Iran is working toward a nuclear weapons program. How we define evidence within the international community is largely up to the IAEA and thus far has been unable to prove that Iran is pursuing the weaponization of nuclear material. A lack of official evidence does not necessarily mean Iran is not pursuing a nuclear weapons program, but simply that it has not been proven within this international framework of legal definitions and rulings. Combined … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Hunger, Security Tagged With: economy, Iran, nuclear weapons, Russia, sanctions, United States

New START Was Ratified…Thank You!

January 5, 2011 by Patrick McDermott

What better way to start off a new year with a New START! As one of the last tasks of the 111th Congress, they ratified the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. It is now up to the Russian Duma to ratify it, which is widely expected. It was a long fought battle, with delay after delay by some obstructionist Senators and more than a dozen hearings on the treaty. However, in the final analysis, we won and it couldn't have been done without your help! So, I want to personally thank everyone who sent letters and made phone calls to their Senators and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Security Tagged With: New START, nuclear weapons, Russia

Have you called for ratification of New START yet?

October 27, 2010 by Patrick McDermott

If you have not, then you're in luck because AIDemocracy has made it very easy to contact your Senator and urge them to ratify New START without delay! New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) is the first treaty in more than a decade that calls for significant reductions in the strategic nuclear arsenals of both the United States and Russia, the two nations that possess over 95% of the world's nuclear weapons. And it also provides for intrusive inspections and verification that each party to the treaty is holding up their end of the bargain. The … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Security Tagged With: New START, nuclear proliferation, Russia, US foreign policy

Attempted Smuggling of Uranium in Moldova Highlights Need to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons

September 2, 2010 by Patrick McDermott

This past month, authorities in Moldova (a former USSR territory) arrested a group of traffickers who were trying to smuggle two kilograms of highly radioactive uranium, specifically uranium 238 for the price of $11 million US dollars. Although this type of uranium is not what would be needed to be used for the production of nuclear weapons (nor is it even enough), it nevertheless could still produce a so-called "dirty bomb," spreading radiation in concentrations above what is considered safe for humans to be exposed to. You can find out more about this … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Security Tagged With: foreign policy, nuclear proliferation, nuclear weapons, Russia, terrorism