James Byrne
Research Fellow
James
Research Fellow
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RUSI’s Proliferation and Nuclear Policy programme provides detailed analysis and research on contemporary nuclear weapons issues.
The research programme consists of two broad portfolios. The first, which deals with issues relating to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, focuses on: North Korean and Iranian nuclear diplomacy; countering proliferation finance and the sanctions regimes imposed to address proliferation threats; and the structure, operations, and evasion tactics of North Korean proliferation networks. The second, covering nuclear policy more broadly, involves research into: the UK’s nuclear weapons programme and its policies on arms control and deterrence; contemporary stresses on the non-proliferation regime, and UK policy towards it; and the effect of advanced conventional precision-strike capabilities on nuclear stability.
The team conducts a range of engagement activities alongside this research, foremost among which is the UK Project on Nuclear Issues (UK PONI), a cross-generational initiative that connects emerging nuclear scholars and professionals with established experts. Other important components include Track II dialogues, both discreet and public, in which capacity RUSI leads the UK component of the high-level, France/UK/US Trilateral Nuclear Dialogues. Proliferation and Nuclear Policy programme experts also train government, military and industry representatives in the UK and overseas on nuclear policy and nuclear technologies, and on best practices for countering proliferation finance.
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"After Brexit, the U.K. might seek closer proximity to the general sanctions imposed by the U.S., in contrast to the list-based sanctions favored by the EU, said Tom Plant, a director for proliferation and nuclear policy at the Royal United Services Institute for Defense..."There’s clearly potential for [U.K. and EU sanctions policy] to diverge,” Mr. Plant said. "
Brexit Could Bring Changes to U.K. Sanctions Policy
In The News, 14 March 2019 Tags: Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
The Hanoi Summit: It is Not About the Economy, Stupid
RUSI Newsbrief, 13 March 2019
Tom Plant
The Hanoi summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump came to no clear agreement on measures to limit North Korea’s nuclear programme. The two countries’ opposing positions and motives will make next steps challenging.
Tags: United States, North Korea, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
"“We have seen a lot of the sites that are often associated with the nuclear program have continued to operate. And we’ve also seen a couple of new sites be publicly revealed,” said Cristina Varriale, a research fellow focused on nuclear policy at the Royal United Services Institute think tank. “Just because a site was revealed publicly doesn’t mean they’re new or represent an expansion of the North Korean program.” "
Here's What We Know About North Korea's Nuclear Program
In The News, 26 February 2019 Tags: North Korea, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
Sizing Up Sanctions in the Second Trump–Kim Jong-un Summit
Commentary, 26 February 2019
Emil Dall
Can the US offer enough financial incentives to North Korea in exchange for denuclearisation, without discrediting the current sanctions regime? A way around the dilemma may exist. As President Donald Trump meets his North Korean counterpart, the role of sanctions in the negotiations warrant further discussion.
Tags: North Korea, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Pacific
Call for Proposals: The UK PONI 2019 Annual Conference
News, 25 February 2019
UK PONI is now accepting proposals from members for presentations at the 2019 Annual Conference.
Tags: UK Project on Nuclear Issues, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
""It’s less about the nuclear material and more about the engineering,” said Tom Plant, director of Proliferation and Nuclear Policy at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies, an independent think tank in the United Kingdom.
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Nuclear bombs: Explaining how North Korea and others might dismantle the deadly weapons
In The News, 11 February 2019 Tags: North Korea, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear PolicyPages
Sizing Up Sanctions in the Second Trump–Kim Jong-un Summit
Commentary, 26 February 2019Emil Dall
Can the US offer enough financial incentives to North Korea in exchange for denuclearisation, without discrediting the current sanctions regime? A way around the dilemma may exist. As President Donald Trump meets his North Korean counterpart, the role of sanctions in the negotiations warrant further discussion.
North Korea, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Pacific
The Role of Verification in the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty Dispute
Commentary, 15 January 2019Darya Dolzikova
The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty is about to pass into oblivion. But its verification provisions merit further attention, both as a reflection on lesson learned from the past, but also as indicators for the future.
United States, Americas, Russia, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Global Security Issues, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Europe
Delicate Footwork: Security and Diplomacy on the Korean Peninsula
Commentary, 17 December 2018Cristina Varriale
The suspension of US–South Korean military exercises is a vital step in the broader effort to build confidence on the Korean peninsula.
Armed Forces, United States, North Korea, UK Project on Nuclear Issues, Global Strategy and Commitments, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Defence Policy, Asia, Global Security Issues, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Pacific
The Impending Demise of the INF Treaty: Britain Has a Job on Its Hands
Commentary, 22 October 2018James Cameron
President Donald Trump’s announcement that the US will withdraw from a landmark nuclear treaty comes at a bad time for the UK. Still, if damage to British security is to be limited, deft diplomatic handling from London will be required.
United States, US Defence Policy, Russia, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Global Security Issues, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
All to Play For: Sports Diplomacy on the Korean Peninsula
Commentary, 25 September 2018Tom Plant
The two halves of the Korean peninsula have engaged in sports diplomacy before. But latest agreements between the leaders of the two countries have taken this diplomacy much further, with broader implications for the security of the region.
North Korea, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, PacificPages
A Long Road to Denuclearisation: Challenges to Security-Based Diplomacy with North Korea
Occasional Papers, 6 December 2018Cristina Varriale
This paper sets out the case for a gradual, step-by-step approach to remove North Korea's nuclear weapons.
Occasional Papers, North Korea, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Pacific
European Views on Leadership in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and Recommendations for the UK
Conference Reports, 19 November 2018Cristina Varriale
On 18 October 2018, RUSI ran a workshop to discuss leadership in the context of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and how the UK could best contribute to its initiation or implementation.
United Nations, Conference Reports, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, UK, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, International Institutions
The 2018 UK PONI Papers
Conference Reports, 18 October 2018Edited by Cristina Varriale
The 2018 UK PONI Papers examine contemporary civil and military nuclear issues and are written by emerging experts from academia, government and industry who presented at the 2018 UK Project on...
China, United States, Defence, Industries and Society, UK Project on Nuclear Issues, Conference Reports, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Trident, UK, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
Countering Proliferation Finance: Model Law Second Edition
Other Publications, 2 October 2018Anagha Joshi
This is the updated version of the model law from the previous guidance paper produced by RUSI on countering proliferation finance. It aims to assist governments seeking to strengthen their legal and...
Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, Counter-Proliferation Finance, United Nations, Other Publications, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
Underwriting Proliferation: Sanctions Evasion, Proliferation Finance and the Insurance Industry
Occasional Papers, 9 July 2018Emil Dall and Tom Keatinge
This paper seeks to establish the baseline for a discussion on proliferation finance in the (re)insurance sector. The insurance industry can play a vital role in contributing to the successful...
Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, Counter-Proliferation Finance, United Nations, Occasional Papers, North Korea, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Sanctions, Proliferation and Nuclear PolicyPages
UK PONI Table Top Exercise
Events, 8 March 2019UK PONI will be running a nuclear disarmament simulation game for early- and mid-career nuclear experts.
UK Project on Nuclear Issues, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
UK PONI Workshop: Introduction to Nuclear Weapons Policy
Events, 11 February 2019UK Project on Nuclear Issues will host a one-day introductory workshop covering the basics of nuclear weapons policy for early career professionals.
UK Project on Nuclear Issues, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
Have I Got Nukes for You: The UK PONI Christmas Quiz
Events, 4 December 2018Given the success of our previous UK PONI Christmas quizzes, we’re back for a third year!
UK Project on Nuclear Issues, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
UK PONI Networking Event: Women in Nuclear
Events, 4 December 2018This inaugural networking session will allow our female UK PONI members to engage directly with leaders in the nuclear field from across industry, policy, and academia.
UK Project on Nuclear Issues, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
Leadership in the Non-Proliferation Treaty
Events, 20 November 2018This panel event will launch the report of a recent private RUSI workshop that discussed leadership in the context of the NPT and how the UK could contribute.
UK Project on Nuclear Issues, Proliferation and Nuclear PolicyPages
The US-Russia Nuclear Treaty Under Threat
Multimedia, 21 October 2018After reports that the USA may with from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, Professor Malcolm Chalmers, Deputy Director General of the Royal United Services Institute speaks to BBC news...
Tags: United States, Russia, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
The North Korean Nuclear Summit
Multimedia, 9 March 2018Tom Plant, Director, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy programme at RUSI on the proposed nuclear summit between North Korea and the US
Tags: United States, North Korea, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Pacific
President Trump's Nuclear Button Tweet
Multimedia, 3 January 2018 Tags: United States, North Korea, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Pacific
The Nuclear Ban Treaty in 2018
Multimedia, 21 December 2017Tom Plant, Director of RUSI's Proliferation and Nuclear Policy programme discusses the prospects for the Nuclear Ban treaty in 2018
Tags: Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
Dealing with the Latest North Korea Missile Threat
Multimedia, 11 August 2017Following a war of words between US President Donald Trump and the Pyongyang regime, are we at risk of escalation? RUSI experts Tom Plant, Cristina Varriale and Emil Dall discuss.
Tags: United States, North Korea, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Global Security Issues, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
The Illusion of Simplicity: Which Virtual Currencies Businesses are Subject to Money Laundering Rules?
A Confident Pakistan Army Recalibrates the Country’s Regional Policies
NATO's National Resilience Obligations