Contents

SIPRI Yearbook 2021

Contents
Preface
Abbreviations and conventions
- Abbreviations and conventions
- Conventions
- Geographical regions and subregions
SIPRI Yearbook online
Introduction
1. Introduction: International stability and human security in 2020
- I. Security issues in 2020: A global overview
- II. The Covid‑19 pandemic
- III. The US election
- IV. International cooperation
Part I. Armed conflict and conflict management, 2020
2. Global developments in armed conflicts, peace processes and peace operations
- Overview
- I. Tracking armed conflicts and peace processes
- II. Global and regional trends and developments in multilateral peace operations
- III. Table of multilateral peace operations, 2020
3. Armed conflict and peace processes in the Americas
- Overview
- I. Key general developments in the region
- II. Armed conflict and the peace process in Colombia
- III. Armed conflict in Mexico
4. Armed conflict and peace processes in Asia and Oceania
- Overview
- I. Key general developments in the region
- II. Armed conflict and peace processes in South Asia
- III. Armed conflict and peace processes in South East Asia
5. Armed conflict and peace processes in Europe
- Overview
- I. Key general developments in the region
- II. The interstate armed conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan
- III. Armed conflict and the peace process in Ukraine
6. Armed conflict and peace processes in the Middle East and North Africa
- Overview
- I. Key general developments in the region
- II. Armed conflict and peace processes in Iraq, Syria and Turkey
- III. The Israeli–Palestinian conflict and peace process
- IV. Armed conflict and peace processes in North Africa
- V. Armed conflict and peace processes in Yemen
7. Armed conflict and peace processes in sub-Saharan Africa
- Overview
- I. Key general developments in the region
- II. Armed conflict and peace processes in West Africa
- III. Armed conflict and peace processes in Central Africa
- IV. Armed conflict and peace processes in East Africa
Part II. Military spending and armaments, 2020
8. Military expenditure
- Overview
- I. Global developments in military expenditure, 2020
- II. Regional developments in military expenditure, 2020
- III. Transparency in government reporting on military expenditure in South East Asia
9. International arms transfers and developments in arms production
- Overview
- I. Developments in arms transfers, 2016–20
- II. Developments among the suppliers of major arms, 2016–20
- III. Developments among the recipients of major arms, 2016–20
- IV. The financial value of states’ arms exports
- V. Trends in arms production, 2019
10. World nuclear forces
- Overview
- I. United States nuclear forces
- II. Russian nuclear forces
- III. British nuclear forces
- IV. French nuclear forces
- V. Chinese nuclear forces
- VI. Indian nuclear forces
- VII. Pakistani nuclear forces
- VIII. Israeli nuclear forces
- IX. North Korean nuclear forces
- X. Global stocks and production of fissile materials, 2020
Part III. Non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament, 2020
11. Nuclear disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation
- Overview
- I. Russian–United States nuclear arms control and disarmament
- II. Implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran’s nuclear programme
- III. Multilateral nuclear arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation treaties and initiatives
12. Chemical and biological security threats
- Overview
- I. The unfolding Covid‑19 pandemic
- II. Biological weapon disarmament and non-proliferation
- III. Allegations of use of chemical weapons in Syria
- IV. Use of novichok agents
- V. Chemical arms control and disarmament
13. Conventional arms control and regulation of new weapon technologies
- Overview
- I. Global and regional instruments for conventional arms control
- II. The group of governmental experts on lethal autonomous weapon systems
- III. Cyberspace and the malicious use of information and communications technology
- IV. Developments in space security, 2020
- V. The withdrawal of the United States from the Treaty on Open Skies
- VI. International transparency in arms procurement and military expenditure as confidence-building measures
14. Dual-use and arms trade controls
- Overview
- I. The Arms Trade Treaty
- II. Multilateral arms embargoes
- III. The multilateral export control regimes
- IV. Developments in the European Union’s dual-use and arms trade controls
Annexes
Annex A. Arms control and disarmament agreements
- I. Universal treaties
- II. Regional treaties
- III. Bilateral treaties
Annex B. International security cooperation bodies
- I. Bodies with a global focus or membership
- II. Bodies with a regional focus or membership
- III. Strategic trade control regimes
Annex C. Chronology 2020
About the authors
Errata
- Errata

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SIPRI Yearbook 2021

IV. Use of novichok agents

Chapter:: 12. Chemical and biological security threats
Source:: SIPRI Yearbook 2021
Author(s):: Filippa Lentzo, Caitríona Mcleish

This section focuses on developments related to novichok agents in 2020. It provides a short update on the ongoing investigation into the 2018 poisonings in the United Kingdom; discusses the technical changes made to the Schedule of the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC); reviews a new instance of alleged use in the poisoning of Alexei Navalny; and highlights civil society investigations into the Russian novichok programme.¹

Citation (MLA):: Lentzo, Filippa, and Caitríona Mcleish. "12. Chemical and biological security threats." SIPRI Yearbook. SIPRI. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2016. Web. 19 May. 2025. <https://www.sipriyearbook.org/view/9780192847577/sipri-9780192847577-chapter-012-div1-070.xml>.
Citation (APA):: Lentzo, F., & Mcleish, C. (2016). 12. Chemical and biological security threats. In SIPRI, SIPRI Yearbook 2021: Armaments, Disarmament and International Security. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Retrieved 19 May. 2025, from https://www.sipriyearbook.org/view/9780192847577/sipri-9780192847577-chapter-012-div1-070.xml
Citation (Chicago):: Lentzo, Filippa, and Caitríona Mcleish. "12. Chemical and biological security threats." In SIPRI Yearbook 2021: Armaments, Disarmament and International Security, SIPRI. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016). Retrieved 19 May. 2025, from https://www.sipriyearbook.org/view/9780192847577/sipri-9780192847577-chapter-012-div1-070.xml

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