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07 March 2011

GPPi discusses US nuclear doctrine at seminar in New Delhi

From 23-27 February, GPPi Research Associate Joel Sandhu participated in a weeklong seminar on nuclear security in New Delhi organized by the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS). Titled Young Scholars Residential Workshop on Nuclear Disarmament and Nonproliferation, the seminar is an annual gathering put together by the IPCS as part of its Nuclear Security Programme. This year Sandhu was selected to be one of four international participants to join 20 Indians at the workshop.

The Young Scholars Residential Workshop on Nuclear Disarmament and Nonproliferation assembled 24 researchers, academics, experts and officials on nuclear security studies to work together in an interactive course. Among others, the workshop featured lectures from Dipankar Banerjee (retired major general in the Indian Armed Forces), Swaran Singh (chairperson for the Center for International Politics and Professor Organization and Disarmament at Jawaharlal Nehru University), KC Singh (former ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and Iran, and secretary for economic relations in India) and Rajesh Rajagopalan (professor of international politics at Jawaharlal Nehru University). The workshop also featured participant presentations and group discussions, as well as a simulation exercise on a possible nuclear attack in India. Participants had the opportunity to debate among each other on issues such as nuclear terrorism, nuclear disarmament and the Indo-US nuclear deal.

In his presentation, Sandhu discussed US nuclear doctrine, policies and programs. Sandhu argued that initiatives and statements by the Obama administration – such as the Nuclear Security Summit, the president’s 2009 Prague speech and the 2010 Nuclear Posture Review – suggest that nuclear weapons will play an increasingly modest role in US foreign and defense policy. However, any serious impact on nuclear disarmament will require rising powers such as China, India and Brazil to help push the agenda forward for regional and global nuclear security. Sandhu also discussed issues related to US nuclear security, including nuclear terrorism and the Indo-US nuclear deal.