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ELN publications feature authoritative research, high-quality analysis, diverse viewpoints and practical recommendations to address current foreign, defence, and security policy challenges.

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625 items
Page 6 of 70
Policy brief

Widening the ceasefire toolkit: The promise of geophysical monitoring in Ukraine and beyond

Any monitoring mission deployed to observe an end to the hostilities in Ukraine is likely to incorporate a range of remote-sensing technologies to support its verification activities. Drawing on insights from the Norwegian research institute NORSAR’s real-time monitoring of the 2022 Ukraine conflict, this policy brief by Ben D.E. Dando, Kjølv Egeland, and Sebastian Schutte, finds that scientific advances and a growing availability of relevant data have made ‘seismo-acoustic’ analysis a cost-effective means of complementing, backing up, and in some cases replacing other ceasefire monitoring technologies.

17 October 2025 | Kjølv Egeland, Ben Dando and Sebastian Schutte
OSCERussia-WestOSCERussia-West relationsArms ControlEmerging technologiesNATOOSCERisk ReductionRussia-West RelationsUkraine
Podcast

The Women Leaders podcast: Mired in the Middle East

In light of the recent Gaza ceasefire, ELN Senior Associate Fellow Ilana Bet-El is joined by a Palestinian and an Israeli – Dr Tahani Mustafa (ECFR) and Dr Miriam Rosman (Dvorah Forum) – for a frank and raw discussion that lays bare both the hope and the deep divisions that persist in the Israel-Palestine conflict.

17 October 2025 | Ilana Bet-El and Florence Ferrando
DemocracyDiplomacyForeign policyInternational LawMiddle EastPodcastsTerrorismUnited Nations
Commentary

The Russian New START initiative: How can Europeans respond to a poisonous offer?

Putin’s proposal to extend the nuclear weapons treaty for a year has been met with silence from most European leaders so far. ELN Senior Policy Fellow Julia Berghofer writes that there are legitimate concerns over the sincerity of Russia’s proposal, but the West should not let go of an opportunity to leverage Russian interests. While Europeans have only a limited role to play, they must still try their best to influence the process.

15 October 2025 | Julia Berghofer
Multilateral Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-ProliferationArms ControlEuropeNuclear Arms ControlNuclear SecurityNuclear WeaponsRussiaUnited States
Commentary

Europe and the end of New START

In light of Putin’s recent offer of a voluntary, time-limited extension of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) obligations to the US, ELN Policy and Research Director Oliver Meier writes that US allies in Europe should seize this opportunity to help shape the outcome of deliberations about how to respond to Putin’s initiative.

8 October 2025 | Oliver Meier
NPTMultilateral Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-ProliferationNPT ProjectArms ControlEuropeNuclear Arms ControlRisk ReductionRussia-West RelationsUnited States
Policy brief

Guarding the unthinkable: Why regular fail-safe reviews are essential for responsible nuclear stewardship

In times of eroding arms control measures, nuclear-weapons states should consider enhancing transparency around their nuclear safety, security and reliability mechanisms (‘fail-safe’) to strengthen the risk reduction agenda. This policy brief, by ELN Senior Policy Fellow Julia Berghofer, shows how France and the UK can advance fail-safe individually and bilaterally, as well as in the P3 and P5 contexts. Non-nuclear-weapon states parties to the NPT and members of NATO could also support this.

2 October 2025 | Julia Berghofer
FailsafeEmerging Disruptive Technologies and Risk ReductionFranceNPTNuclear SecurityNuclear WeaponsRisk ReductionUnited Kingdom
Podcast

The Women Leaders podcast: The driving force of development

International development has come to an end, according to some economists. Be it the sudden closure of USAID earlier this year, the shift of EU and NATO states to defence spending, or the populist inspired interest in isolationism, the inclination to fund others is diminishing. Susan Brown, United Nations Assistant Secretary General at the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and head of its advocacy efforts, joins ELN Senior Associate Fellow Ilana Bet-El to unpack these trends.

19 September 2025 | Ilana Bet-El and Florence Ferrando
DemocracyEconomyForeign policyGovernanceInternational LawPodcastsUnited Nations
Commentary

A narrow path forward: Iran and the snapback deadline

By the end of August, Britain, France, and Germany have to decide whether to invoke the “snapback” mechanism, which would automatically restore pre-2015 UN sanctions on Iran. Hamidreza Azizi writes that a narrow path remains open for those willing to take it. He proposes a roadmap for phased cooperation with the IAEA, anchored in a parallel diplomatic track with Europe and the US. The window for such an approach may close within weeks; quick action on both sides is essential.

26 August 2025 | Dr Hamidreza Azizi
IranIranMultilateral Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-ProliferationIranMiddle EastNPTNuclear SecurityNuclear WeaponsSanctions
Commentary

How opposing views on nuclear deterrence fracture the non-proliferation regime

Competing perceptions of nuclear deterrence are no longer peripheral disagreements within the NPT and are now driving deep divisions within the regime, threatening its very stability. ELN Policy Fellow Jana Baldus urges states to bridge this divide by recognising differing security perspectives and addressing concerns on all sides. Nuclear-armed states must clarify the rationale behind deterrence and confront double standards, while non-nuclear states should engage with the wider security consequences of rejecting deterrence and consider Russia’s and China’s strategies as well as those of the West.

20 August 2025 | Jana Baldus
NPTMultilateral Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-ProliferationNPT ProjectArms ControlDeterrenceInternational LawNuclear Arms ControlNuclear DisarmamentNuclear SecurityNuclear WeaponsRisk Reduction
Commentary

Network reflections: U.S.-Russia Summit

Trump and Putin are due to meet on Friday to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. In light of the EU leaders’ statement of 12 August that any deal must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and involve Kyiv, we asked ELN network members what can and what should European governments do to ensure that Washington and Russia act upon those principles? How can the EU influence the outcome of the bilateral talks, sustain transatlantic unity, and prepare for different possible outcomes?

14 August 2025 | Alexandra Dienes, Nicholas Dungan, Anatoliy Grytsenko, Imants Liegis, Yauheni Preiherman and Carsten Sondergaard
Network ReflectionsDefenceDiplomacyEUEuropeForeign policyRussiaRussia-West RelationsTransatlantic relationsUnited States