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Commentary

Leaving the Landmine Ban Treaty puts civilians at risk

This week, Finland looks set to vote a final time on withdrawing from the international treaty banning antipersonnel landmines, and Poland may soon follow. Mary Wareham and Laura Lodenius write that this is a catastrophic step backwards for the protection of civilians, and these states should reconsider. Withdrawing from long-standing legal and humanitarian norms threatens to erode fundamental tenets of international humanitarian and human rights law and will only increase the likelihood of harming civilians.

16 June 2025 | Mary Wareham and Laura Lodenius
Multilateral Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-ProliferationArms ControlConventional Arms ControlFinlandInternational LawPoland
Commentary

Israel-Iran conflict: War amid talks

On Thursday night, Israel launched massive strikes on Iran, targeting its nuclear programme and military leaders. This came two days before the US and Iran were supposed to resume direct talks on finding a diplomatic agreement to curb Iran’s nuclear programme. Jane Kinninmont writes that while the short-term repercussions are highly uncertain, there may be more certainty about the long-term ones: this is hugely undermining to nuclear diplomacy and non-proliferation in general.

13 June 2025 | Jane Kinninmont
IranIranIranIsraelJCPOANPTNuclear DisarmamentNuclear SecurityNuclear Weapons
Commentary

Managed co-existence: What NATO could say about Russia

At last year’s Vilnius Summit, NATO pledged to develop a strategic approach to Russia. But with President Trump engaging Moscow directly and ending the “no business as usual” stance, consensus by the June summit in The Hague is unlikely. ELN Senior Associate Fellow and former UK Ambassador to NATO, Sir Adam Thomson, and Former NATO Assistant Secretary General for Operations, Stephen Evans, argue that in light of this, NATO should pursue a strategic shift—an internal deal towards a “managed co-existence” with Russia. This could align with Trump’s goals while preserving deterrence, sustaining European support for Ukraine, and keeping the U.S. committed to NATO.

21 May 2025 | Adam Thomson and Stephen Evans
Russia-WestRussia-West relations
Commentary

Summit survival guide: How NATO’s June 2025 Summit can preserve the Alliance’s core values and interests

NATO’s upcoming Summit in The Hague comes at a key point in the Alliance’s history; Russia’s continued aggression against Ukraine, American impatience with European underspending on defence, and European fears of American withdrawal from collective defence all represent major threats. Former NATO Assistant Secretary General for Operations, Stephen Evans, and ELN Senior Associate Fellow former UK Ambassador to NATO, Sir Adam Thomson, argue that NATO’s history demonstrates it is capable of combining strength and flexibility in times of crisis. They argue for a ‘back to basics’ approach to ease internal tensions, strengthen partnerships and move towards a state of ‘managed co-existence’ with Russia.

19 May 2025 | Stephen Evans and Adam Thomson
Russia-WestRussia-West relationsBelarusDefenceDeterrenceDiplomacyEastern EuropeEuropeForeign policyNATONuclear SecurityNuclear WeaponsRisk ReductionRussiaRussia-West RelationsSecurityUkraineUnited States
Commentary

How Europe can seize responsibility for its own strategic destiny in nine steps

As the UK and the EU declare a “new strategic partnership” to boost trade and security ahead of a UK-EU summit at the end of May, ELN Executive Director Robert Ondrejcsák outlines nine steps for how Europe can rejuvenate itself and become an active architect of its own security.

30 April 2025 | Robert Ondrejcsák
European DefenceRussia-West relationsDefenceDisinformationEUEuropeSecurityUkraineUnited Kingdom
Commentary

From nuclear stability to AI safety: Why nuclear policy experts must help shape AI’s future

Artificial intelligence, much like nuclear technologies, has the capacity to transform our world for the better, offering breakthroughs in several fields whilst simultaneously posing catastrophic risks. Nuclear policy experts, skilled in managing existential threats, are well-suited to guide AI governance. ELN Network and Communications Manager Andrew Jones argues that urgent, coordinated international action and further collaboration between experts in the nuclear and AI fields is needed before AI outpaces our ability to control it.

25 April 2025 | Andrew Jones
2NTEmerging Disruptive Technologies and Risk ReductionArms ControlCyberDefenceDeterrenceEmerging technologiesGovernanceHybrid warfareNEVERNuclear SecurityNuclear WeaponsRisk ReductionWMDs
Commentary

A fragile opening: Iran, the US, and the high-stakes return to diplomacy

Talks between Tehran and Washington are set to take place on Saturday in Oman. Hamidreza Azizi writes that much of Iran’s political spectrum is cautiously optimistic about negotiations, reflecting a recognition of Iran’s military and economic constraints, and a desire to avoid war while securing relief from crippling sanctions. This pragmatic approach may signal a rare opportunity to pursue a deal that addresses concerns over Iran’s nuclear program while averting another regional conflict, but the potential for miscalculation remains high.

11 April 2025 | Dr Hamidreza Azizi
IranIranMultilateral Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-ProliferationIranJCPOAMiddle EastNuclear SecurityNuclear WeaponsUnited States
Commentary

It’s time to use the OSCE

As European leaders prepare a peace plan for Ukraine, ELN Policy and Impact Director Jane Kinninmont and Dr Loïc Simonet argue that they should draw on the OSCE, as the organisation that helped manage risks and offer communication channels during the Cold War, and which includes Russia along with Ukraine.

11 March 2025 | Jane Kinninmont and Loïc Simonet
OSCERussia-WestOSCERussia-West relationsArms ControlDefenceDiplomacyEastern EuropeEUEuropeForeign policyInternational LawNATOOSCERisk ReductionRussiaRussia-West RelationsSecurityUkraineUnited Nations