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Commentary

Île-Longue revisited: Charting a Franco-German nuclear future

French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent speech at the Île-Longue submarine base introduced a long-awaited framework for reconfiguring European deterrence amid an increasingly dangerous and uncertain security landscape. Julia Berghofer and Astrid Chevreuil examine how France’s “forward deterrence” doctrine reshapes Franco-German cooperation, NATO dynamics, and Europe’s nuclear future while addressing emerging disarmament tensions.

31 March 2026 | Julia Berghofer and Astrid Chevreuil
Multilateral Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-ProliferationDeterrenceFranceGermanyNATONuclear SecurityNuclear Weapons
Commentary

European perspectives on the Non-Proliferation Treaty: European Union

Continuing our commentary series exploring European perspectives ahead of the 2026 NPT Review Conference, Stephan Klement sets out the European Union’s approach, reaffirming the Treaty’s central role while recognising the mounting pressures it faces. He underscores a growing emphasis on pragmatic steps alongside efforts to strengthen implementation, accountability, and bridge divides in a fractured geopolitical landscape.

30 March 2026 | Stephan Klement
NPTMultilateral Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-ProliferationEuropeNPTNuclear Arms ControlNuclear Disarmament
Commentary

P5 perspectives on the 2026 NPT Review Conference: United States

In the second in our series exploring P5 perspectives on the forthcoming 2026 NPT Review Conference, Arms Control Association Board Chair and diplomat Thomas Countryman examines the United States’ approach, highlighting a lack of ambition on arms control and risk reduction, and raising doubts about whether the Trump administration will play a constructive role in securing a successful outcome at the RevCon.

27 March 2026 | Thomas Countryman
NPTMultilateral Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-ProliferationArms ControlForeign policyNPTNuclear Arms ControlNuclear WeaponsUnited States
Commentary

After Ukraine: Six principles for managing Europe’s security divide

ELN Senior Associate Fellow, Sir Adam Thomson, explores how Europe and Russia might navigate security after the war in Ukraine. Before debating end-states or shared rules, both sides should first agree on “process principles” – practical, step-by-step guidelines to manage confrontation, reduce escalation risks, and gradually foster a more stable, long-term coexistence.

26 March 2026 | Adam Thomson
ConnectEuropeNATORussia-West RelationsSecurityUkraine
Commentary

Understanding Russia’s wartime economy and why it matters for Euro-Atlantic security

Russia’s ability to sustain its war in Ukraine depends on its economic base. YGLN member Sinikka Parviainen argues wartime mobilisation has enabled defence production growth despite sanctions, but deep structural weaknesses are accumulating, signalling long-term fragility. Euro-Atlantic policy should intensify targeted economic pressure while preparing for a weakened yet enduring Russian military and political threat.

20 March 2026 | Sinikka Parviainen
Managing confrontationRussia-West relationsEconomyEuropeRussiaRussia-West RelationsSecurity
Commentary

European perspectives on the Non-Proliferation Treaty: Germany

Continuing our commentary series exploring different European perspectives ahead of the 2026 NPT Review Conference, Carmen Wunderlich writes that Germany’s current policy towards the NPT reflects not only a change in tone but also a gradual shift in priorities towards pragmatic measures such as risk reduction and confidence-building, while multilateral disarmament seems to have lost political salience.

11 March 2026 | Carmen Wunderlich
NPTMultilateral Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-ProliferationNPT ProjectArms ControlCTBTDefenceEuropeGermanyNuclear Arms ControlNuclear Disarmament
Commentary

Greenland, the United States and Arctic security: Towards a credible and principled Transatlantic response

Trump’s decision at Davos to temper earlier calls for US “ownership” of Greenland has lowered the immediate diplomatic temperature. Yet Greenland continues to occupy a central place in US defence planning and geoeconomic strategy, and the broader Arctic remains shaped by renewed Russian military activity and expanding Chinese economic interests. The underlying strategic drivers, therefore, persist, even if the rhetoric has softened. YGLN members write that this will have consequences for Europe and beyond, requiring increased cooperation and strengthening alliance cohesion.

9 March 2026 | Federica Dall’Arche, Alexandra Filippenko, Gabriella Gricius, Henrik Larsen and Nikita Gryazin
Russia-West relationsArcticNATOTransatlantic relationsUnited States
Commentary

Network reflections: The Iran war – what role should Europe be playing?

Following the recent US–Israeli strikes on Iran and the subsequent regional escalation, Europe’s response has been mixed. As the conflict widens, we ask members of the ELN Network how they assess Europe’s approach so far and what role European governments should be playing.

3 March 2026 | Tarja Cronberg, Jane Kinninmont, Michel Duclos, Sahil V. Shah and Oliver Meier
IranNetwork ReflectionsIranEUEuropeIranIsraelJCPOAMiddle EastNuclear WeaponsUnited States
Commentary

European perspectives on the Non-Proliferation Treaty: Ireland

In May, States Parties to the NPT will meet for the 11th Review Conference under difficult circumstances. In the second of our commentary series exploring different European perspectives, Ciarán Doyle, a diplomat from Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, reflects on Ireland’s perspective on the Treaty and its approach to the 2026 Review Conference. He writes about the importance Ireland places on the Treaty as a small, militarily neutral country, and calls for a commitment to enhanced transparency and accountability from the nuclear-weapon states.

23 February 2026 | Ciarán Doyle
NPTMultilateral Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-ProliferationNPT ProjectNPTNuclear Arms ControlNuclear DisarmamentNuclear SecurityNuclear Weapons