Strengthening Safeguards for Naval Nuclear Propulsion

6 Mar 2026 | APLN

6 March 2026

This week, Tariq Rauf examines the “safeguards loophole” concerning naval nuclear propulsion programmes and its implications for global non-proliferation. Manpreet Sethi speaks at a UN regional briefing on military expenditure and the prospects for sustainable peace. And with International Women’s Day approaching, we revisit a Pulse by Dongyoun Cho, Maria Tanyag, Jiyoung Ko, Ariel Phuphaphatakarn and Innocentia Atchaya on efforts to advance gender equality and expand leadership opportunities for women in international security.

Finally, we highlight recent activities from our network, including analysis of the expiration of New START, the US Strategic Command’s compliance with the laws of armed conflict, the Iran war, and more.

Addressing the Challenges of Nuclear Submarine Proliferation to the IAEA’s Comprehensive Safeguards System

Tariq Rauf, former Head of Verification and Security Policy at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), examines the “safeguards loophole” in naval nuclear propulsion programmes and the implications for global non-proliferation. He notes that the IAEA currently lacks a standardised, universally applicable method for monitoring nuclear material once it is inside a submarine reactor and proposes a revised framework of protocols to strengthen oversight, transparency and accountability.

Read the policy brief

To mark the International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness, APLN Senior Research Adviser Manpreet Sethi joined an online regional briefing hosted by the UN Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD). Panellists discussed the UN Secretary-General’s report The Security We Need, exploring how rising military expenditure is shaping regional security dynamics and the outlook for sustainable peace.

International Women’s Day:
Accelerating Gender Equality in International Security

Ahead of International Women’s Day on 8 March, we revisit reflections from Dongyoun Cho, Maria Tanyag, Jiyoung Ko, Ariel Phuphaphantakarn, and Innocentia Atchaya on advancing gender equality and women’s leadership in international security, and what more must be done to accelerate change.

From addressing gender bias in AI governance and military applications to expanding women’s roles in peacebuilding and redefining what ‘good leadership’ looks like, their contributions highlight both persistent barriers and promising paths forward.

Read the Pulse

APLN has over 170 members from 24 countries in the Asia-Pacific.
Each week, we feature their latest contributions
to global and regional security debates.

See all member activities

The Global Nuclear (dis)Order

Manpreet Sethi, APLN Senior Research Adviser, joined the discussion with Adya Madhavan to explore what the end of New START means for the global nuclear order and how emerging technologies are impacting nuclear arms control. They also discussed whether current wars are reshaping the case for nuclear proliferation and what the future of nuclear arms control might look like.

US Strategic Command on Nuclear Weapons & Laws of Armed Conflict

Peter Hayes, Director of the Nautilus Institute, summarises and provides copies of 10 documents released under the US Freedom of Information Act on legal guidance on STRATCOM’s compliance with the laws of armed conflict in relation to nuclear weapons.

The Multipolar Delusion

C. Raja Mohan, Distinguished Professor at the Motwani-Jadeja Institute of American Studies at Jindal Global University, wrote for Foreign Affairs and argued that despite widespread claims of an emerging multipolar world, the United States remains overwhelmingly dominant and no credible challenger has emerged.

Donald Trump wants regime change in Iran. History is not on his side

C Uday Bhaskar, Director of the Society for Policy Studies (SPS), New Delhi, wrote for The Indian Express, highlighting that regime change is a chimera the US has pursued for decades in several countries. But whether in Afghanistan, Iraq, or Libya, its actions have done little to enhance human security.

How Nuclear Deterrence Undermines Non-proliferation Efforts

Melissa Parke, Executive Director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), argued that reliance on nuclear deterrence fuels proliferation and increases global risks, and the TPNW offers a necessary alternative by rejecting deterrence and establishing a pathway toward global nuclear disarmament.

Was this newsletter forwarded to you?
Sign up here to receive weekly updates from APLN directly to your inbox.

Do you want direct updates on non-proliferation and disarmament issues
in the Asia-Pacific?
Before it’s in the newsletter, it’s on social media.
Follow APLN for direct updates in your favorite social media feed.

4th fl., 116, Pirundae-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea, (03035)
Tel: +82-2-2135-2170
Email: apln@apln.network

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.