Nuclear policy in Europe, China and Russia: Lords International Relations Committee to take evidence

The Committee launched the inquiry because nuclear weapons are on the international agenda in a way they have not been since the end of the Cold War with rising tensions between nuclear-armed states and due to the fragmenting of existing non-proliferation and arms control agreements. The inquiry is examining the state of global nuclear diplomacy and the United Kingdom's role in it. 

Appearing at 10.40am will be:

• Alexandra Bell, Senior Policy Director, Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation
• Dr Oliver Meier, Deputy Head, International Security Division, German Institute for International Affairs

Questions are expected to include: 

• To what extent is it fair to say that we are entering a world without arms control?
• How should European countries, and the UK in particular, respond to changes to the United States' nuclear policy?
• How could Western nuclear powers better engage the other nuclear powers?

Appearing via video link at 11:30am will be:

• Dr Tong Zhao, Fellow, Nuclear Policy Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Beijing

Questions are expected to include: 

• Can you please describe China's position on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, especially the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)?
• What is China's view of international nuclear arms control and its potential role in future negotiations?

Appearing via video link at 12.15pm will be:

• Dr Anastasia Malygina, Associate Professor of International Relations, St Petersburg State University

Questions are likely to include:

• How important are nuclear weapons to Russia, and how has this changed since the end of the Cold War?
• What is Russia's position on the possibility of a world without arms control?
• To what extent does the NPT remain a priority for Russia?

The session will begin at 10.40am in Committee Room 4, House of Lords.