Annual Report CBRN 2020 regarding Disarmament and non-proliferation

Authors:

  • Susanne Börjegren
  • Per Wikström
  • Magnus Normark
  • Jens Wirstam
  • Rikard Norlin
  • Anna Holmström
  • Tina Broman
  • Johan Kastlander
  • Mattias Aldener
  • Anders Ringbom
  • Per Andersson
  • Jon Ahlinder
  • Kerstin Myrtennäs
  • Jonas Näslund
  • Johanna Qvarnström
  • Torbjörn Sundberg
  • Staffan Lundin

Publish date: 2021-08-20

Report number: FOI-R--5154--SE

Pages: 37

Written in: Swedish

Keywords:

  • disarmament
  • non-proliferation
  • chemical weapon
  • biological weapon
  • nuclear weapon
  • space
  • missile

Abstract

This report summarizes the development within the area of CBRN disarmament and non-proliferation combined with results from the research conducted by FOI on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Several examples from the past year highlights the importance of continued intensive work in the area of CBRN disarmament and non-proliferation. The attack on the Russian regime critic Navalny as well as the ongoing work to establish the perpetrator(s) of the chemical weapons attacks in the conflict in Syria create challenges for the work within the OPCW. The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the severe consequences that a biological weapons attack could have for society, and the pandemic is expected to result in increased commitment to the work within the Biological Weapons Convention. In the area of nuclear weapons, the extension of the New Start Agreement between the United States and Russia is a glimmer of light, but there are many challenges regarding the maintenance and renewal of restrictive agreements. Despite the pandemic, the expert support provided by FOI has been extensive, albeit partly in a different form than expected. Among other things, FOI has participated in meetings and negotiations, scenario development prior to exercises and provided technical support as input to several policy papers initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In addition, through its basic research activities, FOI has strengthened its verification capacity and ability for source characterization in all the aforementioned disarmament and non-proliferation areas.