CND's Press Round-Up - 28th May 2021

Posted: 28th May 2021

Dear all,

Please find today’s press round up below. Thank you to all for their continued help and support.

Nuclear Weapons

Russia-U.S. Nuclear Diplomacy
 
Russia wants to scrutinise closely the U.S’s implementation of the New START and is raising concerns that the U.S. might not be in full compliance with the treaty, according to Russian media. A spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the country was concerned by perceived U.S. attempts ‘to re-equip some strategic offensive arms’.

Anti-War

UK-Russia Relations
 
Al Jazeera reports on Russian claims that in October 2020, a British warship crossed into Russian territorial waters and was expelled by the Russian navy and air force. HMS Dragon was allegedly warned not to cross into the zone off the coast of the Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014. The deputy head of the FSB said that the British air defence destroyer said it was engaged in ‘innocent passage’, before being forced out farther into the Black Sea. The Ministry of Defence has not yet commented on the claims.
 
UK Arms Trade
 
The UK government is being urged to investigate arms sales to Oman by campaigners, according to the Morning Star. It comes after images on social media appeared to show the tear gas cannisters being used to suppress peaceful protests were marked with the brand of PW Defence, a Derby-based company. A wave of protests began in the autocratic monarchy, a close British ally in the region, at the weekend. The Omani state is a large buyer of British armaments more generally, with £1.6 billion in licensed arms exports to it since 2015.
 
U.S. Policy on Palestine
 
Observers have raised concerns that the U.S’s emphasis on integrating the Palestinian Authority into its recovery activities in Gaza may hamper efforts, according to Al Jazeera. The U.S. has pledged $360 million overall to deal with the destruction and civilian suffering caused by Israel’s Operation Guardian of the Walls. The U.S. has consistently refused to engage with Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007. A U.S. State Department spokesperson said earlier in the week that they hoped an aid package ‘begins a process of hopefully reintroducing and reintegrating the Palestinian Authority into Gaza’.

With best wishes,

Michael Muir

Press and Communications Officer
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament