Although the end of the Cold War initially led many to believe that the threat of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons (also known as “non-conventional weapons”) would gradually disappear, events over the past few years have continued to remind us that this has not occurred. In fact, ranging from the crisis of the nuclear non-proliferation system to the re-launch of the arms race via the threat of use of weapons of mass destruction by terrorist groups, non-conventional weapons proliferation and disarmament issues are snowballing. GRIP’s current expertise focuses on developments in major nuclear, biological and chemical weapons non-proliferation treaties and in certain key countries like North Korea and Iran. GRIP also pays particular attention to European Union policy in this field and to the question of dual-use goods and technologies and missiles.
The «catch‐all clause», an instrument to fight proliferation (Cédric Poitevin)
The export control of dual‐use goods and technologies is now an important part of the international fight against the proliferation of unconventional weapons. In recent years, many countries, including members of the European Union, adopted a “catch‐all” clause which allows submitting to authorization goods and products that are usually uncontrolled. If this system resulted in additional work for governments and exporting companies, it has primarily enabled authorities to adjust their controls to rapid technological change and to the risks posed by some end‐users and thereby to prevent unwanted exports from taking place against the strategic interests of the exporting country.
Nuclear weapons: The international community's disarmament and non-proliferation work (Céline Francis)
Sixty years after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the dangers posed by the existence of nuclear weapons are still in the news. Nine countries have nuclear weapons, leading to a proportionate increase the risk of nuclear war. The discovery of a clandestine nuclear technology export network gives an idea of the potential for proliferation to other parties and countries. Even the peaceful use of atomic energy can be abused for military purposes.
The Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) was the first international attempt to prevent and control the proliferation of nuclear weapons. It came into force in 1970, attempting to strike balance between the duty of nuclear countries to disarm, and the duty of non-nuclear countries not to acquire nuclear weapons, being granted in return the right to use atomic energy for peaceful purposes.
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ANALYSIS • 2009/01/30
