Latest news with #nuclearpolicy
Wall Street Journal
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
White House Says Iran Deal Needs to Include No Uranium Enrichment
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said a deal with Iran must include "no uranium enrichment." She added that Iran has the components necessary to build a nuclear weapon. Asked about U.S. support for a regime change in Iran, Leavitt said the administration's priority was on making sure Iran didn't obtain a nuclear weapon.
Russia Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
India expanded its nuclear stockpile in 2024
India expanded its nuclear arsenal in 2024 and continues to develop new types of delivery systems for the weapons, according to a report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) published on Monday. SIPRI is an independent international institute that conducts research on conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament. According to the SIPRI 2025 yearbook, India had 180 nuclear stored warheads as of January 2025, while Pakistan had an estimated 170. India has strengthened its nuclear triad by commissioning its second domestically built nuclear-powered submarine, the 'INS Arighaat', which can launch strategic weapons from the sea, in addition to land and air-based capabilities, the SIPRI noted. India's nuclear policy, established in 2003, states that the country will only use nuclear weapons in response to a nuclear attack on its territory or forces, and will not be the first to conduct a nuclear strike in a conflict. SIPRI, which updates its global nuclear forces data annually, said Pakistan is continuing to develop new nuclear delivery systems and produce more fissile material, indicating a potential expansion of its nuclear arsenal in the coming years. 🇮🇳🇵🇰 India and Pakistan expanded their nuclear arsenals and continued to develop new delivery systems in 2024. In early 2025 tensions between India and Pakistan briefly spilled over into armed conflict. Read more 🔗 According to the Stockholm-based institute, Russia and the US have the largest nuclear stockpiles, with 5,459 and 5,177 warheads, respectively. A recent report by SIPRI pointed out that global military spending increased more year-on-year in 2024 than at any time since the Cold War. Russia, China, India, Pakistan, and North Korea all have missiles that can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads and are modernizing these systems, the institute said. China has 600 nuclear warheads, 24 of which are ready for use, and has developed missiles that can carry multiple warheads, a capability that India, Pakistan, and North Korea are also trying to develop, it added.
ABC News
18-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Federal politics live: Nationals leader David Littleproud weighing up options on way forward for nuclear policy
Nationals leader David Littleproud has charted a potential path forward for the Coalition's nuclear policy. Follow our live blog below.
News.com.au
14-05-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
‘Listening to the Australian people': Liberal nuclear policy under ‘review'
Newly elected Liberal deputy leader Ted O'Brien has confirmed the Coalition's controversial nuclear policy is under 'review' as the party looks to rebuild following a 'bruising election'. The opposition went to the election with a pitch to build seven new nuclear sites across the nation; a policy mostly developed by Mr O'Brien as former shadow energy minister. However, the plan became a sticking point for many voters, who felt the Coalition were unable to provide a real timeline or estimated costs for the proposed reactors ahead of May 3. In a heated exchange with Sarah Ferguson on ABC's 7.30 on Wednesday night, Mr O'Brien was grilled about the party's future plans on nuclear. Mr O'Brien said the party would be 'listening a lot' to Australians over the coming months and reviewing several of their policies, including nuclear. 'There is no doubt that as we now review our pathway forward, all policies, including our energy policy will be under review,' Mr O'Brien said. 'I think that is what the Australian people would expect. And we will take our time to do it.' Ms Ferguson asked Mr O'Brien to be 'realistic' about the plan. 'Everyone saw you as both architect and spokesman,' she said. 'In the extremely unlikely scenario where you win the next election, it will be too late for a large-scale nuclear build-out to replace coal. So, where is your nuclear policy now with that realistic timeline in mind?' Mr O'Brien said that the party would not be rushed on the issue. 'People will have views, like the view you put, that you think that if it were taken forward, it might be too late,' he said in response. 'We will be listening to all of this, as we recalibrate our policies moving forward. Our priority is to get it right.' Ms Ferguson pushed back. 'Let's come back. You suggested there that I was expressing a view. I wasn't expressing a view, I was putting to you the proposition that even if in an unlikely scenario where the Coalition were to win the next election, it would be too late to build a set of large nuclear reactors to replace coal-fired power stations,' she said. 'I want to be crystal clear. Are you saying it is still possible for nuclear reactors in Australia to replace ageing coal-fired power stations?' Mr O'Brien said at this stage, no policy was 'out and gone'. 'Nor will we say any policy is accepted and locked in. Our job now is to ensure that we are understanding the message that the Australian people have sent us, and that means with need to engage with Australia, listen to Australians. 'That is what we will be doing. That's with a big dose of humility, I might say.' After being voted in as Liberal leader on Tuesday, Sussan Ley said she was eager to 'do things differently' and have a 'fresh approach' – however her opinions on nuclear remain unclear. However, with Mr O'Brien now in the deputy seat it will take some convincing for the party to change tact. During Dutton's campaign, Ms Ley called nuclear a 'clear plan' and a 'better pathway forward for this country'.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
India and Pakistan: A look at what might lie ahead for the nuclear rivals
India and Pakistan: A look at what might lie ahead for the nuclear rivals India has launched missiles into Pakistani territory in retaliation for a gun massacre on tourists in April. Pakistan's leader condemned the strikes and vowed his country would deliver a robust response. The missile launch, and Pakistan's promise to hit back, have stoked fears of a war between the nuclear-armed neighbours. But Wednesday's early morning strikes show that India can hurt Pakistan without entering its airspace or deploying nuclear weapons. A look at what might lie ahead for the two rivals: – Both have nuclear weapons, but as a deterrent India and Pakistan have built up nuclear arsenals over the years. But their purpose is to stop wars, not start them. ADVERTISEMENT India has a 'no first use' policy. This means it will only retaliate with nuclear weapons if there is a nuclear attack on Indian forces or Indian territories. Pakistan's policy is to use tactical nuclear weapons to counter nuclear threats and conventional military attacks from its bigger, stronger and richer regional rival. Pakistan has not ruled out using nuclear weapons first if it feels an existential threat. But it can ill afford to initiate such a war with India because of its neighbour's superior firepower. Pakistan has lost three conventional wars in the past. South Asia analyst Michael Kugelman said the Wednesday morning strikes were some of the highest-intensity from India on its rival in years and that Pakistan's response would 'surely pack a punch as well'. India's strike on Pakistan is of much greater scale than the one in 2019. Pakistan's response, which according to many reports included downing several Indian jets, has also exceeded the scale of 2019. They're already higher up the escalatory ladder than any time in '19 crisis. — Michael Kugelman (@MichaelKugelman) May 6, 2025 'These are two strong militaries that, even with nuclear weapons as a deterrent, are not afraid to deploy sizeable levels of conventional military force against each other,' Mr Kugelman said. ADVERTISEMENT 'The escalation risks are real. And they could well increase, and quickly.' – Neither has details about the other's arsenal Neither country knows what nuclear weapons the other has or how many. India conducted its first nuclear test in 1974. Pakistan carried out its first in 1988. Think tanks suggest Pakistan has 170 warheads while India has 172. Some analyses indicate Pakistan could have more, around 200. Pakistan holds its nuclear arsenal to deter India from invasion or massive attack. Firefighters douse smoke coming from the debris of an aircraft near Akhnoor on the outskirts of Jammu in India on Wednesday (Channi Anand/AP) In the current situation, it is up to Pakistan to decide how it fights back without provoking India further and without starting something it cannot win. So far, it claims to have shot down several Indian jets in retaliation. Despite decades of hostility and suspicion, India and Pakistan are signatories to a pact that bars them from attacking each other's nuclear facilities. As part of the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations and Facilities, the two sides exchange lists of their nuclear facilities and installations each January. They have exchanged lists for 34 consecutive years. ADVERTISEMENT But neither country is a signatory to the global Non-Proliferation Treaty aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology. – Both prefer limited strikes on specific targets Flare-ups between India and Pakistan have seen precision attacks and reprisals, escalating slowly while giving each side the option to defuse. Border skirmishes are common. India has been under huge domestic pressure to respond this time because the victims in last month's gun massacre were civilians. It said its armed forces targeted sites used by militants linked to the attack on tourists. Residents stand outside a mosque at an Islamic seminary partially damaged by a suspected Indian missile attack on the outskirts of Bahawalpur in Pakistan on Wednesday (Asim Tanveer/AP) In 2019, after a suicide car bombing, there was a predawn airstrike from India that it said targeted a terrorist training camp in Pakistan. Pakistan later claimed to have shot down two Indian warplanes in Kashmir and captured a pilot. The pilot was eventually released and the situation began to normalise. But the episode showed India was willing to enter Pakistani airspace and launch strikes, setting a new threshold for retaliation. ADVERTISEMENT Skirmishes and strikes have so far been contained to border areas including the Line of Control, the de facto frontier dividing Kashmir. The tactic carries the risk of miscalculation because any casualties, especially civilian ones, could aggravate domestic sentiment on either side. – The international community wants restraint With wars escalating in the Middle East, the international community does not want conflict in South Asia. The debris of an aircraft in the compound of a mosque at Pampore in Pulwama district in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Wednesday (Dar Yasin/AP) United States secretary of state Marco Rubio has repeated his calls for India and Pakistan to calm things down, while United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres has expressed his concern about Indian military operations. He has called for maximum restraint. Both India and Pakistan have moved swiftly to highlight their diplomatic engagement in the region, issuing statements pointing to their alliances and position on the world stage. US president Donald Trump, who previously said America would not get involved in mediation, said he wanted things to end quickly. 'I guess people knew something was going to happen based on a little bit of the past. They've been fighting for a long time. They've been fighting for many, many decades. I just hope it ends very quickly,' he said.
