International Humanitarian Law (IHL), law of weaponry and the international arms
control architecture as a whole are confronted with a formidable array of challenges.
New military technologies are set to revolutionize military affairs and challenge
traditional arms control paradigms. At the same time, resurgent big power rivalries
and shifting geopolitical power dynamics in the twenty-first century are putting
increasing pressure on existing arms control structures many of which are imbued
with twentieth century rationales.
Nowhere is this more visible than with regard to nuclear weapons where traditional
arms control regimes are currently eroding at an alarming pace. With the
demise of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty’s (INF) Treaty and the
US’s withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, better known as the
Iran Nuclear Deal, now even the future of the Non-Proliferation and New Start
treaties, both of which are due to be reviewed in 2020 and 2021 respectively, is
uncertain.