Claire Wählen
@clairewahlen.bsky.social
Nuclear deterrence, diplomacy, policies and law ☢️| Prev. NATOCanada, UNFPA Rwanda, Ploughshares_ca | War Studies MA from King's College London | Former journo 🇨🇦/🇬🇧
Reposted by Claire Wählen
this is the most successful a CIA officer has been at toppling a government in years.
November 5, 2025 at 1:13 AM
this is the most successful a CIA officer has been at toppling a government in years.
Reposted by Claire Wählen
Restarting live nuclear testing has been a reactionary goal ever since HW Bush voluntarily ended live tests after September 1992. It's foolish, but also technically hard to imagine: at best living memory is 33 years out of date, early career people then are retiring now slate.com/technology/2...
The United States Is Safest When All Nuclear Tests Are Virtual
Restarting live nuclear testing carries with it a whole host of risks, but it also ignores the reality of the past 50 years of nuclear weapons research.
slate.com
October 30, 2025 at 4:28 AM
Restarting live nuclear testing has been a reactionary goal ever since HW Bush voluntarily ended live tests after September 1992. It's foolish, but also technically hard to imagine: at best living memory is 33 years out of date, early career people then are retiring now slate.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Claire Wählen
"Any book worth banning is a book worth reading."
Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov
August 25, 2025 at 8:40 PM
"Any book worth banning is a book worth reading."
Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov
Reposted by Claire Wählen
BBC International Editor Jeremy Bowen has confirmed that the entire Al Jazeera team in Gaza City has been killed.
August 10, 2025 at 10:33 PM
BBC International Editor Jeremy Bowen has confirmed that the entire Al Jazeera team in Gaza City has been killed.
Reposted by Claire Wählen
This "invisible, mundane multilateralism" is something I really try to underscore Intro to IR. We talk a lot about the Universal Postal Union and the sheer amount of work that goes into the minor miracle of buying a postage stamp and being able to have a letter delivered anywhere in the world 🧵
this was always the danger of having the US fund so much of these organizations’ budgets—a global compact running on the promise of American stability. People in the US have benefited disproportionately too, and all our lives have been underpinned by a largely invisible, mundane multilateralism—
July 18, 2025 at 6:00 AM
This "invisible, mundane multilateralism" is something I really try to underscore Intro to IR. We talk a lot about the Universal Postal Union and the sheer amount of work that goes into the minor miracle of buying a postage stamp and being able to have a letter delivered anywhere in the world 🧵
Reposted by Claire Wählen
"They took hospitals and health care away from you so they could build concentration camps for immigrants."
I know that Medicare/ Medicaid is Democrats’ native language & what they’re happiest speaking but I’d love for SOME prominent person to try the line “they increased the debt limit by $5 trillion in order to triple size of ICE & make its detention center bigger than the whole federal prison system.”
July 2, 2025 at 12:31 AM
"They took hospitals and health care away from you so they could build concentration camps for immigrants."
Reposted by Claire Wählen
Maybe I’m just old fashioned, but I really don’t think the NATO secretary general should be calling the President of the United States “Daddy.”
June 29, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Maybe I’m just old fashioned, but I really don’t think the NATO secretary general should be calling the President of the United States “Daddy.”
Reposted by Claire Wählen
This is REALLY bad--and an utterly predictable consequence of military action.
Inspectors can't now verify Iran's several bombs worth of highly enriched uranium.
This is a MUCH bigger risk than whether the damage done to Fordow meets expectations.
Inspectors can't now verify Iran's several bombs worth of highly enriched uranium.
This is a MUCH bigger risk than whether the damage done to Fordow meets expectations.
June 25, 2025 at 6:05 PM
This is REALLY bad--and an utterly predictable consequence of military action.
Inspectors can't now verify Iran's several bombs worth of highly enriched uranium.
This is a MUCH bigger risk than whether the damage done to Fordow meets expectations.
Inspectors can't now verify Iran's several bombs worth of highly enriched uranium.
This is a MUCH bigger risk than whether the damage done to Fordow meets expectations.
Reposted by Claire Wählen
Iran said there were “no signs of contamination” at the three nuclear sites that US airstrikes targeted.
www.politico.com/news/2025/06...
www.politico.com/news/2025/06...
Iran says strikes did not cause nuclear contamination
“There is no danger to the residents living around the aforementioned sites."
www.politico.com
June 22, 2025 at 3:43 AM
Iran said there were “no signs of contamination” at the three nuclear sites that US airstrikes targeted.
www.politico.com/news/2025/06...
www.politico.com/news/2025/06...
Reposted by Claire Wählen
Again: very impressive.
“"Operation Spider's Web" took one year-and-a-half to organise and has been overseen by Ukraine's President Zelensky, according to his country's security service”
www.bbc.com/news/live/cg...
“"Operation Spider's Web" took one year-and-a-half to organise and has been overseen by Ukraine's President Zelensky, according to his country's security service”
www.bbc.com/news/live/cg...
Ukraine-Russia war live: Drones 'emerged from trucks' before strikes on bombers during major attack in Russia
A major operation has been launched by Ukraine using drones to destroy Russian strategic bomber planes, according to the Ukrainian security service.
www.bbc.com
June 1, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Again: very impressive.
“"Operation Spider's Web" took one year-and-a-half to organise and has been overseen by Ukraine's President Zelensky, according to his country's security service”
www.bbc.com/news/live/cg...
“"Operation Spider's Web" took one year-and-a-half to organise and has been overseen by Ukraine's President Zelensky, according to his country's security service”
www.bbc.com/news/live/cg...
Reposted by Claire Wählen
Honestly the most impressive part isn’t the actual strike, but 18 months of planing, sourcing FPVs and explosives, building the container launch pads and network all inside of Russia without anyone noticing or some official leaking it to the press.
June 1, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Honestly the most impressive part isn’t the actual strike, but 18 months of planing, sourcing FPVs and explosives, building the container launch pads and network all inside of Russia without anyone noticing or some official leaking it to the press.
Reposted by Claire Wählen
India and Pakistan confirm a cease-fire.
May 10, 2025 at 1:47 PM
India and Pakistan confirm a cease-fire.
Reposted by Claire Wählen
Two days ago, it is very probable that leaders in both India and Pakistan didn't want things to get to this point, even as they wanted to pursue their political goals against the other. The thing about escalation is that it has a logic independent of what the players involved often want.
Major airspace closures for civil aviation announced by both Pakistan (all airspace) and India (along the border with Pakistan) in the last few hours. We're possibly about to witness the start of the most intense and broad-spectrum direct conflict between two nuclear-armed states ever.
May 10, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Two days ago, it is very probable that leaders in both India and Pakistan didn't want things to get to this point, even as they wanted to pursue their political goals against the other. The thing about escalation is that it has a logic independent of what the players involved often want.
Reposted by Claire Wählen
Vance: "Which regime in the world has civil nuclear power and enrichment without having a nuclear weapon? The answer is - no one."
Germany, Netherlands, Brazil and Japan all have civil nuclear power and the ability to enrich uranium. None have nuclear weapons.
Germany, Netherlands, Brazil and Japan all have civil nuclear power and the ability to enrich uranium. None have nuclear weapons.
May 7, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Vance: "Which regime in the world has civil nuclear power and enrichment without having a nuclear weapon? The answer is - no one."
Germany, Netherlands, Brazil and Japan all have civil nuclear power and the ability to enrich uranium. None have nuclear weapons.
Germany, Netherlands, Brazil and Japan all have civil nuclear power and the ability to enrich uranium. None have nuclear weapons.
Reposted by Claire Wählen
Canadians will vote tomorrow in the most emotional election since 1988. I have my own preference. But I note: no one doubts that the vote will be free and fair - or that the loser will peacefully accept the voters' decision. That may not sound much. It's more than others have.
April 27, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Canadians will vote tomorrow in the most emotional election since 1988. I have my own preference. But I note: no one doubts that the vote will be free and fair - or that the loser will peacefully accept the voters' decision. That may not sound much. It's more than others have.
Reposted by Claire Wählen
World military expenditure rose by 9.4 per cent in real terms to $2718 billion in 2024, the highest global total ever recorded by SIPRI and the 10th year of consecutive increases.
Press release ➡️ bit.ly/3GH5GNe
#GDAMS2025 #MilitaryExpenditure #DefenseBudget #MilitaryBudget #SIPRI
Press release ➡️ bit.ly/3GH5GNe
#GDAMS2025 #MilitaryExpenditure #DefenseBudget #MilitaryBudget #SIPRI
April 27, 2025 at 10:10 PM
World military expenditure rose by 9.4 per cent in real terms to $2718 billion in 2024, the highest global total ever recorded by SIPRI and the 10th year of consecutive increases.
Press release ➡️ bit.ly/3GH5GNe
#GDAMS2025 #MilitaryExpenditure #DefenseBudget #MilitaryBudget #SIPRI
Press release ➡️ bit.ly/3GH5GNe
#GDAMS2025 #MilitaryExpenditure #DefenseBudget #MilitaryBudget #SIPRI
Reposted by Claire Wählen
Is Cory Booker doing a John Lewis remembrance as he approaches breaking Strom Thurmond's record the senatorial version of Kendrick dropping a diss track on Drake?
I think it is.
I think it is.
Ok doing an extended remembrance of John Lewis as he approaches 7:19 is… remarkable.
April 1, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Is Cory Booker doing a John Lewis remembrance as he approaches breaking Strom Thurmond's record the senatorial version of Kendrick dropping a diss track on Drake?
I think it is.
I think it is.
Reposted by Claire Wählen
Easy to lose it in the chaos, but democratic movements continue to swell in Georgia, Hungary, and Serbia. apnews.com/article/serb...
Serbians march in 4 cities against government pressure and hate speech
Thousands of people have marched in four Serbian cities against government pressure and hate speech targeting university students and professors behind months of anti-corruption protests shaking popul...
apnews.com
April 1, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Easy to lose it in the chaos, but democratic movements continue to swell in Georgia, Hungary, and Serbia. apnews.com/article/serb...
Reposted by Claire Wählen
The Canadian Red Cross is shocked and saddened to learn about the killing of eight Palestine Red Crescent Society medics in Gaza. We send our deepest condolences to their loved ones. Humanitarians are not a target.
The IFRC condemns the killing of eight Palestine Red Crescent Society medics in Gaza.
We are heartbroken. These dedicated humanitarians, killed while responding to the wounded, should have been protected. We mourn their loss and stand with the Palestine Red Crescent.
Full statement: bit.ly/427LXxp
We are heartbroken. These dedicated humanitarians, killed while responding to the wounded, should have been protected. We mourn their loss and stand with the Palestine Red Crescent.
Full statement: bit.ly/427LXxp
March 30, 2025 at 9:45 PM
The Canadian Red Cross is shocked and saddened to learn about the killing of eight Palestine Red Crescent Society medics in Gaza. We send our deepest condolences to their loved ones. Humanitarians are not a target.
I've been refreshing my inbox every fifteen minutes which means every NYT app alert -and there are many- makes my heart skip a beat, followed by swift disappointment.
March 20, 2025 at 9:40 PM
I've been refreshing my inbox every fifteen minutes which means every NYT app alert -and there are many- makes my heart skip a beat, followed by swift disappointment.
Reposted by Claire Wählen
the authoritarianism is bad, but the loser energy is absolutely intolerable
March 11, 2025 at 9:11 PM
the authoritarianism is bad, but the loser energy is absolutely intolerable
Huh, doing an online exam for a government role/pool and it lists the competencies it is checking (judgement, initiative, adaptability, etc.) and numbers them, so I notice the list goes 1, 3, 4, 5, etc.
I find the full list online easily enough - my exam today omitted Integrity and Respect. Odd.
I find the full list online easily enough - my exam today omitted Integrity and Respect. Odd.
March 10, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Huh, doing an online exam for a government role/pool and it lists the competencies it is checking (judgement, initiative, adaptability, etc.) and numbers them, so I notice the list goes 1, 3, 4, 5, etc.
I find the full list online easily enough - my exam today omitted Integrity and Respect. Odd.
I find the full list online easily enough - my exam today omitted Integrity and Respect. Odd.
Picked up @sangernyt.bsky.social book 'New Cold Wars' and the chapter tracing Chinese micro aggressions and policy changes throughout the presidents from Clinton to Biden, and their missteps in responding, was deeply unsettling and well done. Keen to dig deeper.
March 9, 2025 at 4:19 AM
Picked up @sangernyt.bsky.social book 'New Cold Wars' and the chapter tracing Chinese micro aggressions and policy changes throughout the presidents from Clinton to Biden, and their missteps in responding, was deeply unsettling and well done. Keen to dig deeper.
Reposted by Claire Wählen
