CND Press Digest: Thursday 25th April 2024

Nukes in Britain

• The Morning Star carries comments from CND in this article warning about the dangers posed by Britain’s ageing nuclear-armed fleet and the impact of increasingly-long patrols on submarine crews.

Global Nukes

• There should be no nuclear weapons stationed in space: UK statement at the UN Security Council.
• The Guardian: Russia vetos UN resolution to prevent nuclear arms race in space.Moscow described the security council resolution, which would have called on countries not to deploy weapons of mass destruction in outer space, a ‘dirty spectacle.’
• Reuters: Russia, US clash at UN over nuclear weapons in space.
• The i newspaper: Russia has moved nuclear-capable missile systems to the Finnish border, state media have reported, in what appears to be the latest threat from the Kremlin to use such weapons against the West.
• The Metro has a feature on where nuclear weapons are in Europe, and omits mentioning plans to station US nuclear weapons in Britain.

Military Spending

• Grant Shapps calls for all other NATO members to increase military spending to at least 2.5% of GDP.

Nuclear Energy

• The Register: A company contracted to manage an Amarillo, Texas nuclear weapons facility has to pay US government $18.4 million in a settlement over allegations that its atomic technicians fudged their timesheets to collect more money from Uncle Sam.

NATO / Europe

• The Telegraph: German army prepares plan to ready US troops to fight on NATO’s eastern front. General hints at ‘war footing’ logistics aiming to feed thousands of American soldiers and fuel tanks in event of face-off with Russia.
• New York Times: NATO puts on a show of force in the shadow of Russia’s war.
  The alliance’s largest exercises offer a preview of what the opening of a Great Power conflict could look like. How it ends is a different story.

Middle East & North Africa

• The Washington Post: The nuclear threats that loom over Iran and Israel.

AUKUS / Indo-Pacific

• US confident about meeting new deadline for UK, Australia AUKUS exemptions. https://www.reuters.com/world/us-confident-about-meeting-new-deadline-uk-australia-aukus-exemptions-...
• US Congress passes foreign military aid package with $5bn boost for AUKUS agreement with Australia. Defence minister Richard Marles welcomes confirmation of congressional funding that ensures US can produce Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines for Australia.

Best,

Pádraig McCarrick

Press and Communications Officer

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament