Category: Key issues in a nutshell
The status of nuclear weapons
Nuclear umbrellas and umbrella states
The following text aims to clarify the concept of a ‘nuclear umbrella’ and pinpoints political challenges and debates associated with the topic.
By ILPI
The euphemism of a ‘nuclear umbrella’ is generally understood to cover a form of military cooperation by which one or more nuclear-armed states (‘holding’ the umbrella) provide supposed nuclear protection for one or more non-nuclear-armed states (‘sheltering’ under it). A crucial point to understand about nuclear umbrellas is that they are not necessarily codified by authoritative documents. Rather, nuclear umbrellas are rooted in military and diplomatic practices. A ‘nuclear umbrella’, is a security arrangement under which the participating states consent to or acquiesce the potential use of nuclear weapons in their defence. The related concept of ‘extended nuclear deterrence’ may be understood as the intended effect of a nuclear umbrella. A ‘nuclear umbrella state’ is a state without nuclear weapons under the supposed protection of the nuclear weapons of another state.
ICJ’s Advisory Opinion on nuclear weapons
The Conference on Disarmament
The functions and work of the Conference of Disarmament
By ILPI
Offers an overview of the organization and working methods of the Conference on Disarmament (CD), the multilateral negotiating forum for disarmament and control, as well as a presentation of major issues discussed and negotiated in the CD.