| Last week, APLN Board members met with experts from the Normandy for Peace Initiative in Seoul to discuss geopolitical dynamics in Asia. Our Senior Policy Fellow, Tanvi Kulkarni, participated in the 14th Consultative Meeting of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium. We also revisit a commentary on the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) by H.E. Mr. Philémon Yang and Dr. Robert Floyd, marking the 29th anniversary of the CTBT’s opening for signature.
As always, we highlight recent activities from our network, including analyses on the legal issues surrounding nuclear weapons, the UN’s 80th anniversary, Pakistan-Saudi defense pact, ASEAN’s joint military exercises, and NATO diplomacy. |
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On September 16, APLN Governing Board members Robyug Park, Ajin Choi, Eunjung Lim, and Senior Policy Fellow Joel Petersson Ivre met experts from the Normandy for Peace initiative in Seoul to discuss geopolitical dynamics in Asia. The meeting offered a valuable opportunity to exchange perspectives on regional security challenges and explore potential future collaborations.
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On September 15, APLN Senior Policy Fellow Tanvi Kulkarni spoke on the “Tensions Rise in South Asia” panel at the 14th Consultative Meeting in Brussels, where she discussed key security challenges driving tensions in South Asia alongside Ettore Greco, Nicolas Blarel, Jagannath Panda, and Haleema Saadia. The event was organized by the Foundation for Strategic Research.
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From Trinity to Today: Turning the Page on Nuclear Testing
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H.E. Mr. Philémon Yang, President of the UN General Assembly, and Dr. Robert Floyd, CTBTO Executive Secretary, emphasise that the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) has strengthened global security by establishing a powerful norm against testing. Despite not yet entering into force, the Treaty enjoys near-universal support, with an extensive monitoring system that ensures transparency and accountability. They call on the international community to bring the CTBT into force, warning that any return to nuclear testing would threaten peace, security, and the environment.
This commentary is part of a global effort to promote awareness of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. It is published in cooperation with partners across the Asia-Pacific.
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APLN has over 170 members from 23 countries in the Asia-Pacific.
Each week we feature their latest contributions
to global and regional security debates.
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| << Test First Name >>, as an APLN member, we want to feature your latest work in this newsletter and on our website. Email us at apln@apln.network to share your latest activities or if you have an idea for an original commentary or report. |
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| Peter Hayes, Director of Nautilus Institute, convened the Nautilus Global NC3 legal expert working group, which contributed to The Law on Nuclear Weapons: An International Commentary, edited by William Boothby and Wolff Heintschel von Heinegg. Including several APLN members, the group helped shape this authoritative guide to the complex legal issues surrounding nuclear weapons. |
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| C. Raja Mohan, Visiting Professor at the National University of Singapore’s Institute of South Asian Studies, wrote for the Indian Express on the UN’s 80th anniversary, arguing that the real question is not whether the US or China will dominate the organisation, but whether middle powers such as India can help craft a multilateralism fit for an era of rivalry and rapid change. |
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| Rabia Akhtar, founding Director of the Centre for Security, Strategy and Policy Research at the University of Lahore, wrote about the Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement signed by Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in September 2025, stressing that defence cooperation does not equal a war pledge, nor does signalling amount to a nuclear guarantee. |
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| Sarah Teo, Assistant Professor at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, published a paper in Contemporary Security Policy analysing ASEAN’s joint military exercises and their contribution to regional order-building. |
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| Flynn Acworth, APLN Strategic Risk Reduction Fellow, published an article in The Diplomat, highlighting how NATO diplomacy signals New Zealand’s shift toward Europe and its ambitions to expand dual-use technology exports to the region. |
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