News + Media

	Analysis + Opinion February 22, 2021 Sole purpose is not no first use: Nuclear weapons and declaratory policy Ankit Panda and Vipin NarangWar on the Rocks Ankit Panda and Vipin Narang exaimine the debate on the US nuclear policy and the “no first use” pledge. This essay was first published in War on the Rocks here.
	In the News February 19, 2021 Biden moves to restart Iran nuclear talks Peter O'DowdWBUR Here & Now The Biden administration says the US would be willing to attend a meeting with European partners and Iran to “discuss a diplomatic way forward on Iran's nuclear program.” Jim Walsh explains and weighs in on this first real sign of rejoining the Iran nuclear deal.
	In the News February 17, 2021 China removes tanks and dismantles helipad, easing border tension with India Will GlasgowThe Australian M Taylor Fravel quoted: “In the near term, the disengagement greatly reduces the chance of military escalation between two nuclear-armed powers by creating buffer zones between their frontline forces,” said M Taylor Fravel, an expert on China’s territorial disputes at MIT. “In the longer term, it could serve as the basis for talks to reduce incidents along the LAC, especially in areas where the two countries view the location of the LAC differently,” Mr Fravel told The Australian.
	Analysis + Opinion February 16, 2021 Can Europe defend itself? Barry Posen joins the Eurasia Group Foundation’s Mark Hannah to discuss the future of the alliance and America’s security interests in Europe. They cover Posen’s recent piece for the journal Survival, in which he insists—and demonstrates how—Europe can defend itself.
	Analysis + Opinion February 16, 2021 After the apocalypse: US nuclear policy Inkstick Media What should the Biden administration prioritize when it comes to US nuclear policy? Heather Williams and Vipin Narang are among the scholars requested to offer their recommendations.
	Analysis + Opinion February 14, 2021 Russia’s new crises on the periphery Carol SaivetzLawfare Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in December 1991, Russia has sought to maintain its sway in the post-Soviet space despite numerous upheavals. Carol Saivetz explains in a recent article first published here in Lawfare.
	In the News February 12, 2021 Indian and Chinese troops start disengagement at Pangong Tso; experts discuss CNBC-TV18 The Chinese PLA have withdrawn over 200 tanks and have started removing troops from south Pangong region. Defence minister Rajnath Singh told parliament on Thursday that Indian and Chinese troops have reached an agreement on disengagement. To discuss this, Parikshit Luthra spoke to Ananth Krishnan, China correspondent at The Hindu, and M Taylor Fravel, director of security studies at MIT.
	In the News February 12, 2021 How India stood its ground and forced China to end Pangong Tso aggression Snehesh Alex Philip and Nayanima BasuThe Print M Taylor Fravel quoted: “Although it remains early days, my view is that China is responding to the significant deterioration of US-China relations in the past year, and the way in which its international image has suffered in many countries, at a time when the party will launch the 14th five-year plan that is critical to its development goals,” Fravel added.
	In the News February 12, 2021 Impeachment video shows Pence had 'nuclear football' as he moved away from Capitol riot Morgan GstalterThe Hill Vipin Narang quoted: “More jarring than seeing the ‘football’ follow Pence as he was being evacuated — it is just a communication device, at no point could it’s compromise have resulted in a launch — is knowing that the man who possessed sole authority to launch American nukes at the time incited this mob,” Narang wrote.
	In the News February 11, 2021 Indian, Chinese armies begin pullback at LAC Rahul Singh and Sutirtho PatranobisHindustan Times Vipin Narang quoted: Vipin Narang, associate professor of political science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said: “Let’s see what happens. Any movement toward disengagement is good, but it has to be real and sustained, and verified not just in Pangong but eventually elsewhere as well. It can’t be China pretending to disengage and India pretending to believe it.”