Since the Cold War, France has charted an independent course in nuclear policy, without relying on external security guarantees. But what makes France’s nuclear strategy different from that of the United States, United Kingdom or Russia? And how does it fit into the European security architecture today? In this episode of The Arms Control Poseur, host Dr Alexander Bollfrass is joined by leading nuclear policy experts Héloïse Fayet, Emmanuelle Maitre and Dr Liviu Horovitz to discuss France’s nuclear programme that began in the shadows of World War II, as French leaders, including Charles de Gaulle, sought to ensure that the country would never again be left vulnerable to invasion or external political pressure. Unlike the UK, which fully integrated its nuclear programme with the United States, France pursued a self-sufficient approach, developing its own warheads, missiles and delivery systems.

S4.E4: Better know a nuke: France

China’s nuclear journey began during the Cold War, when Mao Zedong’s leadership saw nuclear weapons as essential to protecting China’s sovereignty. Initially relying on assistance from the Soviet Union, China quickly accelerated its nuclear programme, conducting its first nuclear test in 1964. In this episode of The Arms Control Poseur, host Dr Alexander Bollfrass is joined by leading nuclear policy experts Dr Jingdong Yuan, Dr Tong Zhao and Dr Fiona Cunningham to discuss China’s recent ambitious expansions of its nuclear capabilities. This shift is monitored globally and poses the question why China is moving away from its traditional nuclear posture and what it means for global security?

S4.E5: Better know a nuke: China

Israel is unique among nuclear-armed states as it neither confirms nor denies its nuclear capability. While Israel’s nuclear ambiguity has shaped its strategic posture for decades, it also raises questions about Israel’s nuclear doctrine and how it fits into Middle Eastern security. Unlike other nuclear powers, Israel began exploring nuclear weapons development before the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. In this episode of The Arms Control Poseur, host Dr Alexander Bollfrass is joined by leading nuclear policy expert Dr Or Rabinowitz to provide deep insights into the history, strategy and future of Israel’s nuclear programme.

S4.E6: Better know a nuke: Israel

India’s nuclear weapons programme begins with the pre-independence roots of its nuclear ambitions. While India has continuously emphasised the peaceful aspects of nuclear energy, the geopolitical landscape in South Asia has shaped its dual-use trajectory. The border war with China in 1962, followed by China’s nuclear test in 1964, and the increasing alignment between China and Pakistan, were turning points. In this episode of The Arms Control Poseur, host Dr Alexander Bollfrass is joined by leading nuclear policy experts Dr Manpreet Sethi and Dr Jayita Sarkar to explore South Asia’s nuclear stability, the roots of India’s nuclear posture and what the future may hold for arms control in an increasingly multipolar world.

S4.E7: Better know a nuke: India

How did Pakistan become a nuclear power? Between India and China, how does Pakistan manage deterrence in a volatile region with two-nuclear armed neighbours, growing asymmetry, and no effective arms control mechanisms in place? After Pakistan’s nuclear journey began in the 1950s with civilian ambitions, it developed nuclear enrichment capabilities in the early 1980s and conducted first tests in 1998. In this episode of The Arms Control Poseur, host Dr Alexander Bollfrass is joined by leading nuclear policy experts Dr Rabia Akhtar and Dr Mansoor Ahmed to discuss the history of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons, how its strategic doctrine evolved over time and arms control proposals for the region.

S4.E8: Better know a nuke: Pakistan

With the story of North Korea’s nuclear programme commencing in the 1950s under Kim Il Sung, following the end of the Soviet support and the imbalance of power with South Korea, Pyongyang began to see nuclear weapons not only as a deterrent, but as a necessary tool for regime survival. In this episode of The Arms Control Poseur, host Dr Alexander Bollfrass is joined by leading nuclear policy experts Dr Jingdong Yuan, Dr Daniel Salisbury and Ankit Panda to deep dive into the closed world of North Korea’s nuclear ambitions – from its Cold War roots to its modern missile arsenal and the collapse of every diplomatic effort to stop its advance. Decades of research, insights shared by intelligence leaks and firsthand accounts explain why North Korea won’t give up its nuclear weapons, what that means for US and South Korean security policy and what challenges arise for arms control on the Korean Peninsula.

S4.E9: Better know a nuke: North Korea

In the last episode of season 4 of The Arms Control Poseur, host Dr Alex Bollfrass and guest Zuzanna Gwadera reflect on moments from the season and what they reveal about nuclear strategies, global risk dynamics and the path for arms control.

S4.10: Better know a nuke: net assessment

In this episode of The Arms Control Primer, host Alex Bollfrass speaks with Dr. Nicole Grajewski and Dr. Azadeh Zamirirad about the turbulent history and future of Iran’s nuclear programme. From the Shah’s ambitions and covert enrichment efforts, to the JCPOA and its collapse, to the recent Israeli and US strikes on Iranian facilities, the conversation explores what lessons can be drawn for diplomacy, deterrence and the global non-proliferation regime.

Better know a non-nuke: Iran

In this episode of The Arms Control Primer, Alex Bollfrass speaks with Dr Hans Blix and Dr Stephen Herzog about Iraq’s pursuit of nuclear weapons: from its early civilian programme to clandestine enrichment efforts and the UN inspections that followed the First Gulf War. Together, they explore how the Iraqi case exposed the challenges of detecting undeclared activities and helped transform international safeguards.

Better know a non-nuke: Iraq

In this episode of The Arms Control Primer, host Alex Bollfrass is joined by Dr Emma Rosengren and Dr Thomas Jonter to explore how Sweden, once on the brink of becoming a nuclear-armed state, chose the path of restraint instead. They trace the country’s journey from its dual-use nuclear programme and fierce public debate in the 1950s to its leading role in global disarmament diplomacy. As Sweden has joined NATO amid renewed tensions with Russia, what lessons does its experience offer for the future of non-proliferation and deterrence?

Better know a non-nuke: Sweden

About The Arms Control Primer

The Arms Control Primer is a regular podcast series run by the International Institute for Strategic Studies on behalf of the European Union Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC) that unpacks the most pressing arms-control issues, explores the nuclear past, present and future, and discusses measures to combat miscalculation, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems.

The Institutions:
https://www.iiss.org/research/strategy-technology-and-arms-control/
https://www.nonproliferation.eu/