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Reposted by Oliver Meier

The European Leadership Network (ELN) @theeln.bsky.social · 18h

Putin’s offer to extend New START opens a rare window for dialogue. ELN Policy and Research Director @olivermeier.bsky.social argues that US allies in Europe should seize this rare opportunity for arms control and help shape Washington’s response.
europeanleadershipnetwork.org/commentary/e...

Europe and the end of New START

In light of Putin's recent offer of a voluntary, time-limited extension of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) obligations to the US, ELN Policy and Research Director Oliver Meier writ...

europeanleadershipnetwork.org

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Reposted by Oliver Meier

The European Leadership Network (ELN) @theeln.bsky.social · 22h

In New York for the UNGA First Committee on Disarmament & International Security? Make sure to check out ELN Senior Policy Fellow Julia Berghofer's and ELN Senior Network member @akmentt.bsky.social's side event ⤵️
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

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Oliver Meier @olivermeier.bsky.social · 2d

Must-read @passblue.bsky.social piece: "Commitments to gender equality aren’t just falling by the wayside — they are being bulldozed to the ground. ... The decrease in financial support is also being undermined by a US-led normative and moral attack on international frameworks like the WPS agenda."

PassBlue @passblue.bsky.social · 3d

The WPS Agenda Needs Strong Wills to Counter Rough Headwinds passblue.com/2025/10/05/t...

The WPS Agenda Needs Strong Wills to Counter Rough Headwinds

passblue.com

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Oliver Meier @olivermeier.bsky.social · 6d

Must-read by my @theeln.bsky.social colleague Julia Berghofer on why regular and independent #failsafe reviews by #nuclearweapons possessors of their nuclear arsenals are a key indicator of responsible stewardship 👇‼️

The European Leadership Network (ELN) @theeln.bsky.social · 6d

In times of eroding arms control measures, nuclear-weapons states should consider enhancing transparency around their nuclear safety, security and reliability mechanisms (‘fail-safe’) to strengthen the risk reduction agenda. europeanleadershipnetwork.org/policy-brief...

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Oliver Meier @olivermeier.bsky.social · 10d

Must-read by Annemiek Dols on how "Russia’s use of banned chemicals undermines associated norms of non-use and may pave the way for the use of more lethal chemicals" - absent a meaningful international response to violations of #ChemicalWeaponsConvention #CWC: is.gd/AB1Osb

Testing the waters: Russia’s use of banned chemicals in Ukraine

Despite being a founding member of the Chemical Weapons Convention, Russia is intensifying its weaponisation and use of riot control agents and industrial chemicals in Ukraine. These developments show that preventing the use and proliferation of chemical weapons remains an international concern.

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Reposted by Oliver Meier

Hans Kristensen @nukestrat.bsky.social · 15d

This piece in National Interest about UK decision to buy nuclear F-35As wrongly claims B61-12 nuke will "sacrifice" aircraft stealth because bomb can't fit in the bomb bay. nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/th...

No so. As this picture shows, the F-35A can carry two bombs internally.

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Oliver Meier @olivermeier.bsky.social · 16d

2/2 Caveat: "Measure will only be viable if US acts in a similar manner and does not take steps that undermine or violate existing balance of deterrence capabilities." Which presumably could mean a lot of things, including Golden Dome, etc. Trump should reciprocate and allies should welcome move.

Oliver Meier @olivermeier.bsky.social · 16d

1/ For once, not only bad news out of the Kremlin: ""Russia is prepared to continue adhering to the central numerical limits under the New START Treaty for one year after 5 February 2026." is.gd/0rAcRF

Putin offers Trump a temporary nuclear arms control deal that would extend status quo by one year

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that he was ready to extend by one year the last arms control treaty between Washington and Moscow that limits the number of nuclear weapons each side has if U.S. President Donald Trump does the same.

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Oliver Meier @olivermeier.bsky.social · 17d

And a bit of nuclear chest-thumping here: "Volkel air base also hosts the U.S. Air Force 703rd Munitions Support Squadron", which provides security for nuclear weapons. is.gd/VS32sE

NATO Secretary General visits Volkel Air Base in the Netherlands

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte travelled to Volkel Air Base, Netherlands, on Thursday (18 September 2025), home to two Royal Netherlands Air Force F-35 squadrons. Volkel air base also hosts the U.S...

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Oliver Meier @olivermeier.bsky.social · 23d

Concise, solid and constructive @deepcutsproject.bsky.social fact sheet laying out key challenges for finding a follow-on agreement and describing policy options to avoid an unconstrained nuclear arms build-up "After the New START treaty" expires February 2026. Take a look 👇‼️
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After the New START treaty : DeepCuts

The Deep Cuts Project analyses the potential for US-Russian nuclear arms control under adversarial conditions.

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The European Leadership Network (ELN) @theeln.bsky.social · 29d

Russia’s exercise Zapad is not only combat prep but also an instrument of strategic communication. The challenge is reading it right. ELN Senior Policy Fellow @alxgraef.bsky.social writes that confidence-and security-building measures (CSBMs) may help.
europeanleadershipnetwork.org/commentary/n...

Not so quiet on the Western Front: Why Russia’s Zapad exercise highlights the need for military confidence-building measures

Russia’s strategic exercise Zapad, which begins later this week, is not only about combat preparation; it is also an instrument of strategic communication. The real challenge is reading it correctly. ...

europeanleadershipnetwork.org

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Reposted by Oliver Meier

The European Leadership Network (ELN) @theeln.bsky.social · 27d

Sign up for the fortnightly newsletter here europeanleadershipnetwork.us5.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=...

European Leadership Network

European Leadership Network Email Forms

europeanleadershipnetwork.us5.list-manage.com

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The European Leadership Network (ELN) @theeln.bsky.social · 27d

Check out the ELN's latest Iran briefing ⤵️
mailchi.mp/europeanlead...

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Oliver Meier @olivermeier.bsky.social · 26d

US B61 to be delivered by UK F35 are "something between hydrogen bomb and frontier policeman"? Well, B61 *are* hydrogen bombs to start with. Also, there are plenty of other, smarter "response options" than weapons of mass destruction. There is no "void" on the "escalation ladder". is.gd/gT8HUx

Chief of the Air Staff speech at DSEI 2025

Chief of the Air Staff speech at DSEI 2025 - ‘Putting more AIR in Air: Agile, Integrated, Ready’

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Olya Oliker aka Dr. Olga Oliker (she/her) @olyaoliker.bsky.social · 27d

Why the impact of Poland and its NATO allies' decision to shoot down Russian drones may well be stabilizing. Expanding a bit on my Bluesky thread from yesterday with an entry in the @crisisgroup.org Analyst's Notebook series.

Drones over Poland | International Crisis Group

Crisis Group expert Olga Oliker analyses the implications of the decision by Poland and its NATO allies to shoot down Russian drones over Polish territory on 9 September

www.crisisgroup.org

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Reposted by Oliver Meier

Stephen Schwartz @atomicanalyst.bsky.social · 27d

On September 11, 2001, US Strategic Command was—by sheer coincidence—one week into its annual Global Guardian nuclear command and control exercise. Strategic bombers had been armed with some 36 nuclear weapons, ICBMs and several SSBNs were on alert, and three E-4B airborne command posts were aloft.

On 9/11, StratCom leaders were practicing for a fictional threat when real, unprecedented catastrophe struck

Nothing had prepared them to respond to multiple commercial airliners inside the United States that had suddenly been transformed into guided missiles, filled with human beings.

omaha.com

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Reposted by Oliver Meier

Stephen Schwartz @atomicanalyst.bsky.social · 28d

Today in 1996, the United Nations General Assembly approved the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty on a vote of 158-3. Bhutan, India, and Libya all voted no. All five declared nuclear-weapon states (the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and China) pledged to sign the treaty.

A copy of an article in the September 11, 1996, edition of the New York Times headlined, “U.N. Endorses a Treaty to Halt All Nuclear Testing.” A box in the article contains a chronology of nuclear testing since 1945 and a table of known nuclear tests worldwide to that date.

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Oliver Meier @olivermeier.bsky.social · 28d

Potentially important step to averting #snapback: @iaeaorg.bsky.social DG Grossi said agreement gave access to “all facilities and installations in Iran, and contemplates required reporting on all attacked facilities, incl. the nuclear material”, referencing 440kg stockpile of 60% HEU. is.gd/4Xq76m

UN inspectors can resume work at Iran nuclear sites after breakthrough deal

Rafael Grossi, IAEA director general, says agreement with Tehran is ‘important step in the right direction’

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Olya Oliker aka Dr. Olga Oliker (she/her) @olyaoliker.bsky.social · 28d

Whatever was behind the Russian drones entering Poland via Belarus (recce? probe? error?), we're seeing some pretty smart responses from, so far, Warsaw, NATO (& some individual allies), & Minsk. A quick 🧵 1/7

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Alexander Graef @alxgraef.bsky.social · Sep 9

"Exercises are also instruments of strategic communication, intended to shape perceptions, signal resolve, and strengthen deterrence. The real challenge is reading them correctly. This is where confidence- and security-building measures may help" 1/2

europeanleadershipnetwork.org/commentary/n...

Not so quiet on the Western Front: Why Russia’s Zapad exercise highlights the need for military confidence-building measures

Russia’s strategic exercise Zapad, which begins later this week, is not only about combat preparation; it is also an instrument of strategic communication. The real challenge is reading it correctly. ...

europeanleadershipnetwork.org

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Oliver Meier @olivermeier.bsky.social · Sep 5

For me, most scary part of this incredible story is that Trump was/is willing to take such risks with nuclear-armed adversaries. is.gd/eBpzjU

How a Top Secret SEAL Team 6 Mission Into North Korea Fell Apart

The 2019 operation, greenlit by President Trump, sought a strategic edge. It left unarmed North Koreans dead.

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Oliver Meier @olivermeier.bsky.social · Sep 5

Now they just have to rename "Nobel Peace Prize" to "Nobel War Prize" and all will be good.

James Cameron @jjjcameron.bsky.social · Sep 5

If the United States must engage in pointless flights of military nostalgia, my vote would be for reactivating an Iowa-class battleship (again).

Trump to Sign Order Renaming the Defense Department as the Department of War

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Andrey Baklitskiy @baklitskiy.bsky.social · Sep 2

Russia declares @rusi.bsky.social an undesirable organisation, making it a criminal offense for Russian citizens to "engage in the activities" of RUSI.

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Reposted by Oliver Meier

The European Leadership Network (ELN) @theeln.bsky.social · Aug 28

We are delighted to welcome Dr. Karin von Hippel to the ELN's Executive Board.

Between 2015 and 2024, she served as Director-General of RUSI. Before that, she served for nearly six years in the US Department of State.

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The European Leadership Network (ELN) @theeln.bsky.social · Aug 29

Check out the ELN's latest Iran briefing here ⤵️
mailchi.mp/europeanlead...

Sign up to receive it direct to your inbox here ⤵️
europeanleadershipnetwork.us5.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=...

A narrow path forward: Iran and the snapback deadline

mailchi.mp

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