Russia and Europe, the Paris terror attacks and more

4 Feb. 2014, SIPRI, Stockholm, 14:00–15:30
SIPRI Lecture: The future of President Obama’s ‘Prague Vision’

SIPRI cordially invites you to a lecture by Dr Joseph F. Pilat. In December 2014, 158 countries met in Vienna to highlight the humanitarian impact of any nuclear explosion and stressed the importance of a treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons. These issues will be further highlighted at the upcoming nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) review conference to be held at the United Nations in New York in April–May in 2015. It is within this context that Dr Pilat will review recent developments and offer comments on the way forward. Read the full invitation (PDF). Please confirm your participation no later than 3 February 2015 by sending an email with your name and full affiliation to Cynthia Loo (cloo@sipri.org).

7 Feb. 2014, Munich Security Conference
Building Security in and for Europe
Since December 2012, through its Helsinki+40 process, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has been evaluating its activities and trying to identify ways to enhance its effectiveness. This SIPRI event will take stock of the current evaluation and explore future opportunities within the framework of the OSCE. Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger, Chair of the OSCE's Eminent Persons Panel and a SIPRI Governing Board member, will offer special remarks at the lunch discussion. Read more about the Munich Security Conference or contact SIPRI Communications Director Stephanie Blenckner for further information.

11 Feb., SIPRI, 10:00-11:30
SIPRI Lecture: Japan's security policy in the era of new geopolitics
SIPRI cordially invites you to a lecture by Professor Shinichi Kitaoka. A new geopolitical era is dawning: China is expanding its presence in the South and East China Seas and strengthening its control over the neighbouring countries through economic and political measures; Russia is returning to its traditional assertive policy; the United States is downsizing its role as the policeman of the world; religious and ethnic conflicts are on the rise; and the United Nations is not functioning effectively. Professor Kitaoka will explain how Japan, under the Abe administration, is trying to cope with these changes and find common ground with West European countries. Read the full invitation (PDF). Please confirm your participation no later than Tuesday, 10 February 2015 by sending an email with your name and full affiliation to Cynthia Loo (cloo@sipri.org).

SIPRI Researcher defends doctoral thesis
In December 2014 SIPRI Senior Researcher John Hart successfully defended his thesis, The Analysis of Competing Hypotheses (ACH) in the Assessment of Chemical Warfare Activities (PDF), for the degree of Doctor of Military Sciences at the Finnish National Defence University.

>> Aude Fleurant spoke to La Presse about Canadian arms exports to Saudi Arabia.

>> Ekaterina Klimenko discussed the new shipping route through the Arctic for Reuters. Her lecture on Russia's Arctic strategy was also covered by Kunskapskanalen (in Swedish).

>> Pieter Wezeman discussed the implications of falling oil prices on military budgets in the Middle East for IPS, and the launch of SIPRI's arms industry data for Sky News Arabia.

>> Zhou Hang commented on China's peacekeeping contribution in South Sudan in the Phoenix Weekly (in Chinese).

>> More SIPRI in the media ...

>> In brief: SIPRI staff activities in January 2015

>> More SIPRI news ...