Contents

SIPRI Yearbook 2019

Contents
Preface
Abbreviations and conventions
- Conventions
- Geographical regions and subregions
SIPRI Yearbook online
Introduction
1. Introduction: International stability and human security in 2018
- I. The crisis of nuclear arms control
- II. Nuclear non-proliferation concerns
- III. The use of chemical weapons
- IV. International tensions and the dynamics of power
- V. Human security and international cooperation
- VI. In conclusion: The 50th edition of the Yearbook
Part I. Armed conflict and conflict management, 2018
2. Armed conflict and peace processes
- Overview
- I. Tracking armed conflicts and peace processes in 2018
- II. Armed conflict and peace processes in the Americas
- III. Armed conflict and peace processes in Asia and Oceania
- IV. Armed conflict and peace processes in Europe
- V. Armed conflict and peace processes in the Middle East and North Africa
- VI. Armed conflict and peace processes in sub-Saharan Africa
3. Peace operations and conflict management
- Overview
- I. Global trends and developments in peace operations
- II. Regional trends and developments in peace operations
- III. Table of multilateral peace operations, 2018
Part II. Military spending and armaments, 2018
4. Military expenditure
- Overview
- I. Global developments in military expenditure
- II. Transparency in military expenditure
5. International arms transfers and developments in arms production
- Overview
- I. Global trends in arms transfers, 2018
- II. Supplier developments, 2018
- III. Recipient developments, 2018
- IV. Transparency in arms transfers
- V. The financial value of states’ arms exports
- VI. Arms production and military services
6. World nuclear forces
- Overview
- I. US 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 Korea’s military nuclear capabilities
- X. Global stocks and production of fissile materials, 2018
Part III. Non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament, 2018
7. Nuclear disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation
- Overview
- I. North Korean–US nuclear diplomacy
- II. US–Russian nuclear arms control and disarmament
- III. Implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action
- IV. Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
- V. Other developments related to multilateral treaties and initiatives on nuclear arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation
8. Chemical and biological security threats
- Overview
- I. Allegations of use of chemical weapons in Syria
- II. The Skripal case: Assassination attempt in the United Kingdom using a toxic chemical
- III. Chemical weapons: Arms control and disarmament
- IV. Biological weapon disarmament and non-proliferation
9. Global instruments for conventional arms control
- Overview
- I. The Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons and lethal autonomous weapon systems
- II. Anti-Personnel Mines and Cluster Munitions
- III. Control measures on small arms and light weapons
- IV. The UN Secretary-General’s launch of a new disarmament agenda
- V. Cyber arms control and resilience
10. Dual-use and arms trade controls
- Overview
- I. The Arms Trade Treaty
- II. Multilateral embargoes on arms and dual-use items
- III. The export control regimes
- IV. Developments in the European Union’s dual-use and arms trade controls
- V. Controlling technology transfers and foreign direct investment: The limits of export 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 2018
About the authors

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SIPRI Yearbook 2019

8. Chemical and biological security threats

Chapter:: 8. Chemical and biological security threats
Source:: SIPRI Yearbook 2019
Author(s):: Caitríona McLeish, Filippa Lentzos

Allegations of chemical weapon use by Syria continued to dominate the work of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in 2018. The Declaration Assessment Team continued its work to resolve gaps, inconsistencies and discrepancies in Syria’s initial declaration, and the Fact-finding Mission in Syria continued to collect and analyse information in relation to allegations of use. Among the allegations was an attack in Douma on 7 April 2018 that prompted the United States, the United Kingdom and France to launch retaliatory strikes against three sites one week later.

Citation (MLA):: McLeish, Caitríona, and Filippa Lentzos. "8. Chemical and biological security threats." SIPRI Yearbook. SIPRI. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2016. Web. 16 Jun. 2025. <https://www.sipriyearbook.org/view/9780198839996/sipri-9780198839996-chapter-8.xml>.
Citation (APA):: McLeish, C., & Lentzos, F. (2016). 8. Chemical and biological security threats. In SIPRI, SIPRI Yearbook 2019: Armaments, Disarmament and International Security. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Retrieved 16 Jun. 2025, from https://www.sipriyearbook.org/view/9780198839996/sipri-9780198839996-chapter-8.xml
Citation (Chicago):: McLeish, Caitríona, and Filippa Lentzos. "8. Chemical and biological security threats." In SIPRI Yearbook 2019: Armaments, Disarmament and International Security, SIPRI. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016). Retrieved 16 Jun. 2025, from https://www.sipriyearbook.org/view/9780198839996/sipri-9780198839996-chapter-8.xml

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