By 2026, pressure on the international arms control system has reached a point few experts anticipated would arrive so quickly, driven largely by intense geopolitical fragmentation. There is a critical need for professionals who possess the legal, technical, and diplomatic expertise to navigate these modern complexities.
Nuclear threats have re-entered mainstream political discourse for the first time since the Cold War. Chemical weapons have been used in active conflicts. Ballistic missile programmes continue to advance despite international pressure, and the Biological Weapons Convention remains the only global treaty banning an entire category of weapons without a built-in mechanism to verify compliance.
Compounding these challenges, the rapid development of emerging technologies, such as AI-enabled systems and advancements in biotechnology, frequently blur the lines of traditional arms control and challenge existing legal frameworks.
About the programme
Co-organised by the Asser Institute and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), this intensive five-day training provides a comprehensive, practical overview of the international non-proliferation and disarmament framework.
This multidisciplinary programme offers unique access to renowned experts and practitioners. Through interactive sessions, you will dive into active debates surrounding export controls, verification mechanisms, and international law, leaving with the practical insights required to tackle today's security challenges.
Exclusive field visits
A core component of this programme is firsthand exposure to relevant stakeholders and practitioners.. You will step outside the classroom for exclusive guided visits to:
- The OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology (ChemTech)
- The OPCW Headquarters
Core topics covered
- Nuclear weapons: Growing stockpiles, collapsing arms control agreements, and the path forward after deadlocked NPT Review Conferences.
- Chemical weapons: The testing of non-use norms in active conflicts and the challenge of disinformation in accountability.
- Biological weapons: How synthetic biology is lowering the barriers to engineering dangerous pathogens within an outdated treaty framework.
- Export controls & emerging tech: The widening legal gap surrounding hypersonic missiles, AI-enabled systems, and autonomous weapons.
Confirmed speakers
- Dr León Castellanos-Jankiewicz (Researcher, Asser Institute)
- Simon Cleobury (Head of Arms Control and Disarmament Research and Policy Advice Department at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy)
- Dr Sico van der Meer (Research Fellow at Netherlands Institute of International Relations Clingendael)
- Dr Oliver Meier (Policy & Research Director, European Leadership Network)
- Ionut Suseanu (Head of the Non-Proliferation and Policy-Making Section, International Atomic Energy Agency)
- Dr Ana Sánchez-Cobaleda (Assistant Professor of International Law, University of Barcelona)
- Dr Sibylle Bauer (Director of Studies, Armament and Disarmament, SIPRI)
- Dr James Revill (Programme Lead, Weapons of Mass Destruction and Other Strategic Weapons, United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research UNIDIR)
- Dr Miranda Smith (Researcher, SIPRI)
- Dr Edward Howell (Lecturer in International Relations, University of Oxford)
- Dr Abdolrasool Farzam Divsallar (Senior Researcher, United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research)
Who should attend?
If you are an early- to mid-career professional working on these issues and want to deepen your expertise, this programme was built for you.
We regularly welcome:
- Government officials from ministries of foreign affairs and defence.
- Staff at international organisations and diplomats newly posted to The Hague.
- Researchers at think tanks, NGOs, and academic institutions.
- Legal advisers and compliance officers dealing with dual-use or defence technologies.
- Graduate students looking to transition into the security and disarmament field.
Scholarships
View more information on available scholarships.
Registration
- Can't join us this year? Please fill out this short form to receive updates on future editions and upcoming enrolment dates.
- Questions? Please review our terms and conditions before registering. For any inquiries, contact our team at educationtraining@asser.nl. We aim to respond within two business days.
