CND Press Roundup - 20 January

Posted: 20th January 2021

Nuclear weapons

• Sturgeon backs TPNW 
• Nicola Sturgeon has endorsed the Scottish Women’s Covenant on the TPNW, The National reports. Her statement reads: “I share the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom’s (WILPF) opposition to nuclear weapons – they are morally, strategically and economically wrong. They are indiscriminate and devastating in their impacts; their use would bring unspeakable humanitarian suffering and widespread environmental damage. The Scottish Government is firmly opposed to the possession, threat and use of nuclear weapons and we are committed to pursuing the safe and the complete withdrawal of all nuclear weapons from Scotland…
• … While the Scottish Government is unable to become a Party to the Treaty, as First Minister I strongly support the principles of the Treaty and the work of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. An independent Scotland would be a keen signatory and I hope the day we can do that is not far off.”

Biden administration: Anthony Blinken hearing

• Joe Biden’s nominee for secretary of state began his Senate confirmation hearing yesterday, and gave lots of clear indicators as to the shape of the administration’s foreign policy. Among them:
• Lindsey Graham’s quick fire questions to Blinken, as reported by the Washington Post, are a good place to start: 
  • ‘Graham asked whether Blinken considered Iran the world’s “largest state sponsor of terrorism.” “I do,” Blinken replied. 
  • Did he consider Israel a racist nation? “No.” 
  • Should any U.S. agreement with the Taliban in Afghanistan be conditions-based? “Absolutely.” 
  • What would he tell people in a caravan heading toward the American border? “I would say, ‘Do not come.’ ”
• China
  
  • Did he agree that China’s repression of the Uighur minority constituted genocide, as the Trump administration declared Tuesday? “That would be my judgment as well,” Blinken replied.
• Asked how he would respond to China in his first 30 days as secretary of state, Blinken said: “I think we should be looking at making sure that we are not importing products that are made with forced labor from Xinjiang … we need to make sure that we’re also not exporting technologies and tools that could be used to further their repression. That’s one place to start.”
• Blinken also indicated agreement with Pompeo’s recognition of Taiwan.
• Iran nuclear deal
• Blinken defended the Iran nuclear deal, but said that Tehran would have to come back into to compliance with the JCPOA in order for the United States to lift sanctions, the New York Timesreports.
• “We would use that as a platform with our allies and partners, who would once again be on the same side with us, to seek a longer and stronger agreement”, he said, in remarks that indicate agreement with Trump’s aims to curb Iran’s missile programme and end its ‘support for proxy militias’ across the region. 
• Notably, Blinken said that it is “vitally important” for the United States to consult with Israel and Gulf allies regarding potential re-entry into the Iran nuclear deal, Haaretz highlights.
• Meanwhile, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has ‘called on United States President-elect, Joe Biden, to return to the 2015 nuclear deal and lift sanctions imposed on Tehran by Donald Trump’s administration’. Speaking today, Rouhani said: “If Washington returns to Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal, we will also fully respect our commitments under the pact”. Reported in CNN.
• NATO
• Asked if he would support Georgia joining NATO, Blinken responded: “If a country like Georgia is able to meet the requirements and would be able to contribute to our collective security then yes, the door should remain open.”
• Israel
• “Do you agree that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and do you commit that the United States will keep our embassy in Jerusalem?”, Ted Cruz asked. Blinken responded: “Yes and Yes.”