NEWS

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  THE SECURITY INDEX OCCASIONAL PAPER SERIES CAME OUT WITH THE NEW REPORT "ROLE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN THE MODERN STRATEGIC CULTURE OF FRANCE" BY ALEXANDRA ZUBENKO №5 (39)

  September 13, 2023

  Currently, due to the growing tensions, the nuclear factor has been playing an increasingly important role on the international arena. The problems of nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation continue to be one of the main concerns for the international community. Traditionally, Russian and foreign experts pay more attention to the study of the nuclear doctrines of Russia and the United States - the states with the largest nuclear arsenals. In this regard, the nuclear factor in the foreign policy of other countries, especially medium-sized states such as France, is often underestimated. Meanwhile, the issue of multilateral disarmament is a matter of the future and the effectiveness of the nonproliferation regime depends on how it will be resolved.
  
  The goal of this research paper is to analyze the role of French nuclear weapons in the strategic culture of France at the present stage (1991-2023).

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  THE SECURITY INDEX OCCASIONAL PAPER SERIES CAME OUT WITH THE NEW REPORT "US-SOVIET/RUSSIAN RELATIONS IN THE TIMES OF CRISES: LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE ESALEN TRACK 1.5 DIPLOMACY" BY OCÉANE VAN GELUWE №4 (38)

  August 21, 2023

  At the height of the Cold War, a retreat center located in Big Sur, California, made a difference in US-Soviet relations. The Esalen Institute emerged as a counterculture aiming to develop human potential through the early psychedelic movement, religion, spirituality, travels, and seminars. In many respects, the Esalen Institute has built a reputation among the cultured and privileged spheres of Western societies and used its know-how to forge links across the Iron Curtain.
  
  This paper brings to the picture how some US-Soviet relations were initiated and maintained in times of crisis through Esalen Track 2 and Track 1.5 Diplomacy; it offers to explore the lessons learned and provide recommendations.

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  THE SECURITY INDEX OCCASIONAL PAPER SERIES CAME OUT WITH THE NEW REPORT "AUKUS AND AUSTRALIA'S DEFENCE STRATEGY" BY VLADIMIR LADANOV №3 (37)

  July 5, 2023

  This research paper takes a look at the recent AUKUS (Australia-UK-US) nuclear-powered submarines announcement and tries to put it in the context of Australia’s defence strategy.
  
  It does so in three steps. First, it summarizes a promulgated optimal pathway to deliver nuclear-powered general-purpose attack submarine (SSN as the US Navy hull classification symbol) capability to the Royal Australian Navy. Secondly, it notes several thought-provoking reactions by Australian public figures and analysts. Thirdly, it discusses how AUKUS fits into Australia’s defence strategy and planning.
  
  The paper concludes by examining the feasibility of Australia’s self-sufficient defence posture.

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  SECURITY ISSUES IN THE PERSIAN GULF REGION WERE DISCUSSED AT THE 118TH EXTENDED SUMMER SESSION OF THE TRIALOGUE CLUB INTERNATIONAL

  June 22, 2022

  On June 8, the 118th Extended Summer Session of the Trialogue Club International was held. It was devoted to the topic “Iran, Israel and the Gulf. A Changing Geopolitical Landscape. Assessing Emerging Trends”. This time the keynote speakers of the Session were Adlan Margoev, Research Fellow at the Center for Middle East and African Studies at MGIMO University, member of the PIR Alumni Community, and Leonid Tsukanov, PIR Center Web Site Chief Editor, expert of the Russian International Affairs Council.
  
  After the main speeches, a traditional Q&A session took place, during which the participants were able to raise the most pressing issues of the agenda, clarify the details of interest to them, and also share their own comments. It should be noted that the issues brought up for discussion evoked a lively response from the audience, and some theses became the starting point for subsequent discussions.
  
  The 118th Summer Session was moderated by Dr. Elena Chernenko, co-chair of the Trialogue Club International, Special correspondent of the Kommersant Daily.

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  THE SECURITY INDEX OCCASIONAL PAPER SERIES CAME OUT WITH THE NEW REPORT "ON A NEW GLOBAL ORDER AND ITS NUCLEAR DIMENSION. AN INTERVIEW" BY DMITRY TRENIN
  №2 (36)

  May 22, 2023

  Where is the world going? What does it mean the crisis of US-centered world order? How are the nuclear nonproliferation regime and American hegemony interconnected? What is the phenomenon of nuclear multipolarity? Is it worth escalating the fear of nuclear weapons and will nuclear testing resumption help this? Are we moving towards the use of nuclear weapons on the battlefield? What role can the crisis in Ukraine play?​
  
  This research paper was prepared in the format of an interview with Dmitry Trenin, a major Russian specialist in international relations, political scientist and expert, by Elena Karnaukhova, Deputy Director of PIR Center. Together with him, we managed to discuss the establishment of Pax Americana, the transformation of the modern world order, the role and specifics of the functioning of the UN, the current Ukrainian crisis, the risks and factors of the erosion of the nuclear nonproliferation regime, the fear of nuclear weapons, nuclear taboo, the concept escalate to de-escalate and much more – all the most important, relevant, burning issues at the forefront of the global security agenda.
  
  About all of these openly and frankly – on the pages of this paper.

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  AUKUS ALLIANCE AND THE RISKS OF ARMED CONFLICT IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION WERE DISCUSSED AT THE 117TH SPRING SESSION OF THE TRIALOGUE CLUB INTERNATIONAL

  April 6, 2023

  On April 6, 2023, 117th Spring Session of the Trialogue Club International took place in Moscow. The agenda of this session this time was formulated as «Thucydides' Trap: AUKUS and the Risks of Military Conflict in the Asia-Pacific Region». Founding President of the Trialogue Club International and Founding Director of PIR Center Dr. Vladimir Orlov delivered welcoming remarks.
  
  The Session was held in the panel discussion format. The keynote speaker was Vladimir Ladanov Head of the South Pacific States Section, Third Asia Department, Russian Foreign Ministry. Also, expert remarks were made by Viktor Sumskiy, Chief Research Fellow, Center for Asia Pacific Studies, IMEMO RAS, PIR Center Advisory Board Member and Mikhail Lysenko, Deputy Director, International Law Department, School of Government and International Affairs, MGIMO University, PIR Center Advisory Board Member.
  
  After the main speeches, a traditional Q&A session took place, during which the participants were able to raise the most pressing issues of the agenda, clarify the details, and also share their own comments.
  
  The 117th Spring Session was moderated by the co-chairs of the Trialogue Club International Elena Chernenko and Gen. Evgeny Buzhinsky.

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  THE 117TH SPRING SESSION OF THE TRIALOGUE CLUB INTERNATIONAL

  March 24, 2023

  On April 6, 2023, 117th Spring Session of the Trialogue Club International will be held on the topic “Thucydides' Trap: AUKUS and the Risks of Military Conflict in the Asia-Pacific Region”.
  
  The Session will be held in the format of panel discussion. This time our keynote speaker is Vladimir Ladanov, Head of the South Pacific States Section, Third Asia Department, Russian Foreign Ministry. Expert comments on AUKUS and the security situation in the region will be also provided by Viktor Sumskiy, Chief Research Fellow, Center for Asia Pacific Studies, IMEMO RAS, PIR Center Advisory Board Member; and Mikhail Lysenko, Deputy Director, International Law Department, School of Government and International Affairs, MGIMO University, PIR Center Advisory Board Member.
  
  The Session will start with the opening remarks of Vladimir Orlov, Founding President of the Trialogue Club International and PIR Center Founding Director. Then it will be co-moderated by the Club Co-Chairs Gen. Evgeny Buzhinskiy, Chairman of PIR Center Executive Board, and Elena Chernenko, Special Correspondent of the Kommersant Daily, Member of PIR Center Executive Board.
  
  (by invitation only)​

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  THE SECURITY INDEX OCCASIONAL PAPER SERIES CAME OUT WITH THE NEW REPORT "THE TENTH NPT REVIEW CONFERENCE (2022): CHRONICLE OF THE FAILURE FORETOLD" №1 (35)

  February 7, 2023

  In 2022, the NPT Review Conference was held in harsh geopolitical conditions, against the backdrop of an acute aggravation of the international situation. But was it ever any different? This research paper is a collection of all the materials prepared by PIR Center delegation as part of its participation in the Tenth NPT RevCon: informationand analytical notes (section I) and a series of interviews (section II).
  
  By publishing it, we want to contribute to the discussion on the progress and outcomes of the Tenth NPT RevCon in order to prevent a systemic crisis in the review process of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), a cornerstone treaty in the field of international security.
  
  Read the full report here.

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  RUSSIAN FOREIGN POLICY PROSPECTS FOR 2023 WERE DISCUSSED AT THE 116TH WINTER ANNIVERSARY SESSION OF THE TRIALOGUE CLUB INTERNATIONAL

  December 15, 2022

  On December 16, 2022, the 116th Winter Anniversary Session of the Trialogue Club International took place in Zvenigorod. The event`s agenda was devoted to the question “Russian foreign policy in 2023: what’s next?”. Within the Session we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Club, which since 1993 has been following its key mission – to promote international dialogue on global security issues. The 116th Winter Anniversary Session of the Trialogue Club International was held in the panel discussion format. PIR Center Executive Board Member, Lead Researcher of the Center for International Security of IMEMO RAS Dr. Dmitri Trenin; Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council, PIR Center Advisory Board Member Dr. Andrey Kortunov; Dean of the School of International Relations of MGIMO University; Program Director of the Valdai Discussion Club Dr. Andrey Sushentsov; Founding President of the Trialogue Club International, Founding Director of PIR Center Dr. Vladimir Orlov; Director of the Crisis & Situation Awareness Centre (Department) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Mr. Yury Gorlatch took part in the Session as panelists.

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  NEW NUCLEAR NINE? ASSESSING NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION THREATS IN THE WORLD

  December 13, 2022

  PIR Center published a report “New Nuclear Nine? Assessing Nuclear Proliferation Threats in the World,” which analyzes possible threats to the nuclear nonproliferation regime in the long term. 
  
  This report was prepared by an author’s team of 12 researchers under the editorship of Vladimir Orlov, founder and director of PIR Center, and Sergey Semenov, Research Fellow of PIR Center. The authors consider the possible impact of further degradation of the international security situation on the prospects for the proliferation of nuclear weapons (NW) on the examples of Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Ukraine, Turkey, Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Brazil.
  
  Vladimir Orlov’s full introduction in English can be found here.
  
  Table of contents in English can be found here.