The European Leadership Network (ELN)

Tried and tested: Why the CTBT must be preserved President Trump’s recent statement about the US resumption of nuclear testing has heightened concerns over a renewed arms race and the erosion of the global norm against nuclear testing enshrined in t...

States Parties to the NPT must work together to strengthen the CTBT’s credibility and relevance to international security and prioritise collective multilateral action over short-term security gains.
europeanleadershipnetwork.org/policy-brief...

Tried and tested: Why the CTBT must be preserved President Trump’s recent statement about the US resumption of nuclear testing has heightened concerns over a renewed arms race and the erosion of the global norm against nuclear testing enshrined in t...

This policy brief from the ELN’s Protecting the NPT project argues that the CTBT reinforces the NPT by bolstering the nuclear non-proliferation norm and constraining the development of new nuclear warhead types: sustaining it is a strategic imperative.
europeanleadershipnetwork.org/policy-brief...

Tried and tested: Why the CTBT must be preserved President Trump’s recent statement about the US resumption of nuclear testing has heightened concerns over a renewed arms race and the erosion of the global norm against nuclear testing enshrined in t...

President Trump’s recent statement about the US resumption of nuclear testing has heightened concerns over a renewed arms race and the erosion of the global norm against nuclear testing enshrined in the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).
europeanleadershipnetwork.org/policy-brief...

The Women Leaders podcast: Bad plans come unstuck Last week, President Trump announced his 28-point plan for peace to end Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. His proposal has attracted much controversy, with opponents alleging that it prioritises R...

To unpack what Trump’s plan entails for Ukraine, ELN Senior Associate Fellow Ilana Bet-El is joined by Dr Hanna Shelest of Ukrainian Prism, & Iryna Krasnoshtan, of the International Centre for Ukrainian Victory.
europeanleadershipnetwork.org/multimedia/t...

The Women Leaders podcast: Bad plans come unstuck Last week, President Trump announced his 28-point plan for peace to end Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. His proposal has attracted much controversy, with opponents alleging that it prioritises R...

Last week, President Trump announced his 28-point plan for peace in Ukraine. His proposal has attracted controversy, with opponents alleging that it prioritises Russia’s demands first, American interests second, and Ukraine’s sovereignty third.
europeanleadershipnetwork.org/multimedia/t...

Stepping back from the brink: How the UK could help lead the world away from the nuclear precipice The world today stands closer to nuclear catastrophe than at any point since the end of the Cold War. Conflicts involving nuclear-armed states could all too easily escalate to a nuclear confrontation,...

1) Reject nuclear sharing and prioritise transparency

2) Reinvigorate global nuclear diplomacy

3) Adopt a no-first-use policy

4) Engage with the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW)
europeanleadershipnetwork.org/commentary/s...

Stepping back from the brink: How the UK could help lead the world away from the nuclear precipice The world today stands closer to nuclear catastrophe than at any point since the end of the Cold War. Conflicts involving nuclear-armed states could all too easily escalate to a nuclear confrontation,...

Steve Barwick, Chair of the Nuclear Education Trust, calls for the UK, as the chair of the group of five ‘official’ nuclear weapon states in the run-up to the 2026 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, to take four key steps:
europeanleadershipnetwork.org/commentary/s...

Stepping back from the brink: How the UK could help lead the world away from the nuclear precipice The world today stands closer to nuclear catastrophe than at any point since the end of the Cold War. Conflicts involving nuclear-armed states could all too easily escalate to a nuclear confrontation,...

The world today stands closer to nuclear catastrophe than at any point since the end of the Cold War. Conflicts involving nuclear-armed states could all too easily escalate to a nuclear confrontation, right as global arms control treaties collapse.
europeanleadershipnetwork.org/commentary/s...

Nuclear testing: unwise, unnecessary and unwelcome The current debate around a possible resumption of nuclear testing introduces a new level of brinkmanship in an already fraught geopolitical climate. As the testing moratorium risks being weaponised f...

ELN Senior Policy Fellow Julia Berghofer writes that European states, including nuclear-armed ones, must speak with one voice and make clear that nuclear testing is unwise, unnecessary, and unwelcome.
europeanleadershipnetwork.org/commentary/n...

Nuclear testing: unwise, unnecessary and unwelcome The current debate around a possible resumption of nuclear testing introduces a new level of brinkmanship in an already fraught geopolitical climate. As the testing moratorium risks being weaponised f...

The current debate around a possible resumption of nuclear testing introduces a new level of brinkmanship in an already fraught geopolitical climate.
europeanleadershipnetwork.org/commentary/n...

4/4 And read my own thoughts on why Europeans should urge Washington to reciprocate the Russian offer, whilst at the same time injecting their own ideas on the next steps to control nuclear weapons. europeanleadershipnetwork.org?p=24679

The Russian New START initiative: How can Europeans respond to a poisonous offer? Putin’s proposal to extend the nuclear weapons treaty for a year has been met with silence from most European leaders so far. ELN Senior Policy Fellow Julia Berghofer writes that there are legitimate ...

3/ Read what my @theeln.bsky.social colleague Julia Berghofer argues how Europeans should react to Putin's offer to extend New START upper limits: europeanleadershipnetwork.org?p=24710

Network reflections: Nuclear testing signals and European responses Following recent signals between the US and Russia over the possibility of renewed nuclear testing, we asked members to reflect on what this could mean for the broader global non-proliferation and arm...

2/ Take a look at what @theeln.bsky.social Network members think about how Russian and US threats to resume nuclear testing impact European approaches to arms control and disarmament: europeanleadershipnetwork.org?p=24829

The Women Leaders podcast: Ukraine inside and out In the latest episode of the Women Leaders podcast, ELN Senior Associate Fellow Ilana Bet-El speaks with Kristina Zeleniuk (TSN) and Kim Barker (The New York Times) about reporting from Ukraine’s war ...

They explore how journalists effectively balance truth, safety, and state security whilst navigating frontline realities, civilian risks, and the pressures a long, brutal conflict places on independent journalism.
europeanleadershipnetwork.org/multimedia/t...

The Women Leaders podcast: Ukraine inside and out In the latest episode of the Women Leaders podcast, ELN Senior Associate Fellow Ilana Bet-El speaks with Kristina Zeleniuk (TSN) and Kim Barker (The New York Times) about reporting from Ukraine’s war ...

In the latest episode of the Women Leaders podcast, ELN Senior Associate Fellow Ilana Bet-El speaks with Kristina Zeleniuk (TSN) and Kim Barker (@nytimes.com) about reporting from Ukraine’s war zones. europeanleadershipnetwork.org/multimedia/t...

APLN Group Statement: A Return to Nuclear Testing Threatens Global Stability | Asia-Pacific Leadership Network

🚨 APLN is deeply concerned about announcements to resume nuclear testing. This would end nearly 3 decades of global consensus against nuclear explosive testing + threaten the stability of our region & the world.
Here's why it's dangerous 🧵 (1/7)
www.apln.network/analysis/sta...

@janabaldus.bsky.social @sahilv-shah.bsky.social @olivermeier.bsky.social @ctbto.bsky.social #NuclearTesting #ArmsControl

Network reflections: Nuclear testing signals and European responses Following recent signals between the US and Russia over the possibility of renewed nuclear testing, we asked members to reflect on what this could mean for the broader global non-proliferation and arm...

Following new signals of possible nuclear testing, questions are resurfacing about the role of testing. How might these shifts, or even their perceptions alone, affect Europe and the global arms control regime? See what some of our Network had to say ⤵️ europeanleadershipnetwork.org/commentary/n...

“Already declining aid flows were further disrupted in 2025 by the withdrawal and restructuring of USAID programs. This change is especially damaging due to the shock-and-awe nature of the cuts, which left no room to adapt and marks the end of an era of three decades of deepening engagement.”

Check out the ELN's latest Iran briefing below ⤵️
mailchi.mp/europeanlead...

Subscribe to the mailing list here ⤵️
europeanleadershipnetwork.org/future-nucle...

Trump kündigt Atomwaffentests an: Experte: „Rückschritt in den Kalten Krieg und einfach dumm“ Wie ernst ist die Ankündigung von US-Präsident Donald Trump zu nehmen, nach 33 Jahren Pause wieder Atomwaffentests durchzuführen? Der Experte Oliver Meier sieht vor allem eine Gefahr.

ELN Policy and Research Director @olivermeier.bsky.social spoke to Südwest Presse about Trump's instruction to resume nuclear testing, check it out (in 🇩🇪) below ⤵️
www.swp.de/politik/trum...

The Women Leaders podcast: Talking about a revolution In the face of global trade wars, geopolitical realignments, weakening democracies and strengthening autocracies, wars both hybrid and kinetic, and increasingly fragile multilateralism, the world as w...

Check out this week's @women--leaders.bsky.social episode below ⤵️
europeanleadershipnetwork.org/multimedia/t...

The Women Leaders podcast: Talking about a revolution In the face of global trade wars, geopolitical realignments, weakening democracies and strengthening autocracies, wars both hybrid and kinetic, and increasingly fragile multilateralism, the world as w...

Professor Janice Stein, founder of the Munk School of Global Affairs, joins ELN Senior Associate Fellow Ilana Bet-El in a fast-paced discussion on our age of revolution, from the US to China and Europe, and from the past to the future.
europeanleadershipnetwork.org/multimedia/t...

The Women Leaders podcast: Talking about a revolution In the face of global trade wars, geopolitical realignments, weakening democracies and strengthening autocracies, wars both hybrid and kinetic, and increasingly fragile multilateralism, the world as w...

In the face of global trade wars, geopolitical realignments, weakening democracies and strengthening autocracies, wars both hybrid and kinetic, and increasingly fragile multilateralism, the world as we know it is undergoing a profound transformation.
europeanleadershipnetwork.org/multimedia/t...

The day after: Future of development aid in Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova Development aid faces unprecedented disruption following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and USAID’s 2025 withdrawal, ending three decades of sustained engagement. With USAID funding nearly half of globa...

Experts urge renewed democratic aid, stronger EU commitments, increased transparency, & vigilance against authoritarian influence.
europeanleadershipnetwork.org/commentary/t...

The day after: Future of development aid in Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova Development aid faces unprecedented disruption following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and USAID’s 2025 withdrawal, ending three decades of sustained engagement. With USAID funding nearly half of globa...

The YGLN Economy Working Group, chaired by Sinikka Parviainen, Senior Economist at the Bank of Finland's Institute for Emerging Economies, consulted with analysts & practitioners to better understand their perspectives on the cessation of aid.
europeanleadershipnetwork.org/commentary/t...

The day after: Future of development aid in Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova Development aid faces unprecedented disruption following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and USAID’s 2025 withdrawal, ending three decades of sustained engagement. With USAID funding nearly half of globa...

Development aid faces unprecedented disruption following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine & USAID’s 2025 withdrawal. With USAID funding nearly half of global humanitarian aid, its exit leaves vulnerable states like Ukraine, Georgia, & Moldova exposed. europeanleadershipnetwork.org/commentary/t...

Protecting the Non-Proliferation Treaty Why? International structures are resilient but not indestructible. The multilateral arms control regime is facing challenges and setbacks and requires investment. In 2018, US President Trump...

To read more about the ELN's work on multilateral arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation, check out our page for our "Protecting the NPT" project below ⤵️ europeanleadershipnetwork.org/protecting-t...

We would also like to thank the former President of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, the former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, @helenclarknz.bsky.social, and the former President of Mexico, Ernesto Zedillo, for speaking alongside Jana.

We would like to thank Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer for chairing this event, as well as members of both Houses and representatives from civil society for their attendance.