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The Arms Control and Disarmament Cluster aims to promote innovative, cooperative and rules-based responses to arms proliferation and the unprecedented challenges to the traditional Arms Control regimes. It seeks to promote a better understanding of how the disarmament machinery can be used to improve the complicated international security environment.

The Cluster meets these goals by:

1. Responding to demand for knowledge on up-to-date current geopolitical, technological, and legal developments, as well as for advice, education, and dialogue from and among key stakeholders. This is done, for instance, through executive courses on implementing the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) or the Biological Weapons Convention or through training officials from the Middle East and North Africa on Arms Control.
2. Developing partnerships with, and a high visibility among, key stakeholders (government representatives, both in Geneva and in capitals, civil society organisations, academia) to promote cross-institutional and multi-stakeholder approaches.
3. Publishing regular policy analysis and advice on current and potential developments in the fields of Arms Control and Disarmament, including such topics as artificial intelligence, bio security, nuclear disarmament, and space security.

In our executive education courses and dialogue events, we seek to offer a neutral and inclusive platform to address relevant topics freely, taking into account all viewpoints as well as the national and regional security environment while promoting collaborative approaches. Apart from the knowledge they derive from expert presentations, participants improve their skills in practical exercises.

Network and collaborate

The community of practice of our Alumni remains active in sharing professional experiences and good practices. They meet on a regular basis at international conferences in Geneva and other multilateral forums. They are encouraged to follow refresher courses at GCSP and train their own colleagues at home.

Publications related to Arms Control and Disarmament:

• Simon Cleobury. IP24100 | Can Moratoria Break the Current Arms Control and Disarmament Deadlock?, 04 December 2024
• Tobias Vestner and Simon Cleobury. Putting the Second REAIM Summit into Context, 5 September 2024
• Simon Cleobury. The Arms Trade Treaty and the role of technology, LinkedIn Article, 12 August 2024
• Federico Mantellassi, Simon Cleobury, Jean-Marc Rickli and Nicolò Borgesano. Submission on Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems to the United Nations Secretary-General by the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, 24 May 2024
• Simon Cleobury. Signs of Progress Towards LAWS Regulation, 18 April 2024
• Simon Cleobury. What next for Space Security negotiations?, LinkedIn Article, 14 February 2024
• Simon Cleobury. Will 2024 be a defining year for regulation of Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems?, LinkedIn Article, 5 February 2024
• Simon Cleobury. Sécurité spatiale: l’espoir persiste, Tribune de Genève, 8 September 2023.
• Simon Cleobury. Responsible Space Behaviours Working Group fails to agree a report, but talks still a success, LinkedIn Article, 1 September 2023.
• Simon Cleobury. The role of industry in the Arms Trade Treaty, LinkedIn Article, 28 August 2023.
• Jean-Marc Rickli, Federico Mantellassi and Gwyn Glasser. Peace of Mind: Cognitive Warfare and the Governance of Subversion in the 21st Century, Policy Brief No.9, Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP), 25 August 2023.
• Simon Cleobury. The New Agenda for Peace – the key arms control and disarmament elements, LinkedIn Article, 20 July 2023.
• Jean-Marc Rickli. Does the UN need a watchdog to fight deepfakes and other AI threats?, The National News, 17 July 2023.
• Simon Cleobury. Artificial Intelligence and Arms Control –How and Where to Have the Discussion, In Focus, Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP), 13 July 2023.
• Daniel Schoeni and Tobias Vestner, eds. Ethical Dilemmas in the Global Defense Industry. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, April 2023.
• Ricardo Chavarriaga, Jean-Marc Rickli and Federico Mantellassi. Neurotechnologies: The New Frontier for International Governance, Strategic Security Analysis / Issue 29, Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP), 11 April 2023.
• Jean-Marc Rickli and Federico Mantellassi. “Artificial Intelligence in Warfare: Military Uses of AI and Their International Security Implications” in: Michael Raska and Richard Bitzinger, eds. The AI Wave in Defence Innovation: Assessing Military Artificial Intelligence Strategies, Capabilities, and Trajectories. London ; New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, April 2023.
• Tobias Vestner and Juliette François-Blouin. Globalizing Responsible AI in the Military Domain by the REAIM Summit, Just Security, 13 March 2023.
• Tobias Vestner. From Strategy to Orders: Preparing and Conducting Military Operations with Artificial Intelligence, Working Paper, Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP), 17 February 2023.
• Jean-Marc Rickli and Federico Mantellassi. Human-Machine Teaming in Artificial Intelligence-Driven Air Power Future Challenges and Opportunities for the Air Force, The Air Power Journal, 25 January 2023.
• Tobias Vestner. The Nexus Between Responsible Military AI and International Law, Lieber Institute at West Point, 17 November 2022.
• Kevin M. Esvelt. Delay, Detect, Defend: Preparing for a Future in which Thousands Can Release New Pandemics, Geneva Paper 29/22, Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP), November 2022.
• Thomas Greminger and al. The Future of Peace and War: Warfare at the Technological Edge, GESDA, 17 November 2022.
• Tobias Vestner. Treaty Law to Signal to Outsiders: The Case of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, Washington International Law Journal, Volume 31, Number 3, 1 June 2022.
• Tobias Vestner and Altea Rossi. Legal Reviews of War Algorithms, International Law Studies, Volume 97, U.S. Naval War College, 22 February 2021.
• Tobias Vestner. The New Geopolitics of the Arms Trade Treaty, Arms Control Today, December 2020.
• Stuart Casey-Maslen and Tobias Vestner. Trends in Global Disarmament Treaties. Journal of Conflict and Security Law, Volume 25, No. 3, 1 December 2020.
• Tobias Vestner. Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space: Multilateral Negotiations’ Effects on International Law. Moscow Journal of International Law, No. 2, 19 November 2020.
• Stuart Casey-Maslen and Tobias Vestner. A Guide to International Disarmament Law, Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, June 2019.