Editorial Snapshot: 25-June-2025

Nuclear spectre: On the risk of an era of nuclear brinkmanship

After a 12-day conflict marked by Israeli and U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, a ceasefire was announced on June 24, 2025. Israel’s “pre-emptive” strike, conducted despite Iran’s NPT membership and past compliance with international agreements like the JCPOA, escalated into a wider war, risking radioactive fallout. The attacks may push Iran to exit the NPT and pursue nuclear weapons for deterrence, which could justify further aggression from Israel and the U.S. Israel’s actions, as a non-NPT signatory with an undeclared arsenal, highlight its double standards and reliance on U.S. support for its aggressive policies. These developments, alongside Russia’s nuclear threats in the Ukraine conflict, expose the breakdown of global nuclear norms and deterrence logic. With nuclear states modernising arsenals and non-nuclear states reconsidering their stance, the NPT regime faces existential threats. Without renewed diplomacy, disarmament efforts, and commitment to international law, the world risks descending into a more dangerous phase of nuclear brinkmanship than during the Cold War.

Woman at the helm: On the new IOC president Kirsty Coventry

On June 23, 2025, Kirsty Coventry made history as the first African and first woman to lead the International Olympic Committee (IOC). At 41, she is also the youngest president since founder Pierre de Coubertin. Though seen as a symbol of continuity with outgoing president Thomas Bach, Coventry has shown independence during the transition period. Her background as a white athlete in Zimbabwe and a former minister suggests a more empathetic and consensus-driven leadership style. She faces complex challenges, including gender and inclusion issues, doping, evolving sports formats, and sustaining global interest in the Olympics.Coventry’s eight-year term will also involve navigating political tensions, such as the potential reinstatement of Russia, interactions with U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and conflicts in West Asia that may affect bids for the 2036 Games. India, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia emerge as key stakeholders. Backed by IOC member Nita Ambani, Coventry must quickly adapt to the intricacies of global sports governance, starting with a two-day strategic session with IOC members to set the tone for her presidency.

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