As if Struck by Lightning? The Future of Nuclear Security and the Non-Proliferation System after Crimea

The 3rd Nuclear Security Summit, which opened in The Hague on 24 March, was convened to examine progress made in securing vulnerable nuclear materials from the threat of terrorism. The events in Ukraine, though, will not only be a feature of discussions amongst world leaders on the sidelines of the meeting but also should force a review of the direction of wider non-proliferation and arms control efforts. While Ukraine is unlikely to exit the Non-Proliferation Treaty, the prospects for further nuclear reductions in the world have become bleak, with nuclear deterrence now set to play a more visible role in Europe and beyond.