Joshua Kulantzick surveys the state of global trade in the midst of this week's G8 talks.

President Barack Obama and South Korean President Park Geun-hye issued this joint declaration on May 7, 2013. The statement confirms both nations' commitment to the U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK) Mutual Defense Treaty, U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement, Joint Vision for the U.S.-ROK Alliance, and Six Party Talks with North Korea.

The United States tried to convince Israel to join the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) when the treaty was first introduced and before it was widely believed that Israel had nuclear weapons. The NPT's objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology and further the goal of universal disarmament.

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Ray Takeyh warns that the West is falling into a diplomacy trap set by Iranian clerics regarding the nuclear Non-Prolifieration Treaty (NPT).

The Arab League met in Doha, Qatar for their twenty-fourth summit and released its statement on March 27, 2013, which was read by Deputy Arab-League Secretary-General Ahmed Bin Helli.

The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) on April 2, 2013. The press release says the treaty makes it "harder for human rights abusers, criminals and arms traffickers to obtain weapons" and gives a brief history of the treaty from the 1990s.

North Korean Supreme Command of the Korean Army released this statement on March 5, 2013, saying that North Korea will no longer recognize the Korean Armistice Agreement if the UN Security Council passed a resolution and sanctions against North Korea after its February nuclear test.

John B. Bellinger III says, "Over the last 230 years, the Senate has approved more than 1,500 treaties. In 2013, Mr. Obama must demonstrate leadership by putting greater effort in securing Senate approval of essential treaties that advance American interests, including the Law of the Sea Convention."

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) updated its treaty through the final acts of the World Conference on International Telecommunications in Dubai, December 3-14, 2012.

Captain Melissa Bert, USCG, and Captain Bradley Russell, USN, argue that while the United States is a nation reliant on sea power, it is not being the leader it can be on the Law of the Sea Convention.

In his testimony before the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, John Bellinger argues that the Law of the Sea Convention is beneficial to the United States military, especially during a time of armed conflict, because it provides clear treaty-based navigational rights for our Navy, Coast Guard, and aircraft.

Captain Melissa M. Bert, USCG saysnow is the time for the Obama administration to advance a comprehensive Arctic strategy that addresses both governance and acquisition requirements, or it risks further harm to the economic and national security of the United States.

Drawing on the lessons of the Information Technology Agreement, Matthew Slaughter calls for the elimination of international trade and investment barriers in energy industries.

Michael Levi says European leaders' demands for legally binding treaties are obstructing progress in international climate change talks.

The nuclear nonproliferation regime has had difficulty dealing with noncompliance and preventing the illicit use of dual-use materials. A strengthened Proliferation Security Initiative can help prevent proliferation and mobilize international action.

Is reducing the world's nuclear arsenals to zero possible, or even desirable?

Following U.S. ratification of the New START arms control treaty with Russia, join Rose E. Gottemoeller, Steven Pifer, and Micah Zenko for a discussion of the next steps in U.S. and Russian nuclear cooperation.

CFR's John Bellinger expects the U.S. Senate to approve the START nuclear arms treaty with Russia this year and urges says the Obama administration to more actively pursue other treaties, including the Law of the Sea.

John B. Bellinger III argues, "The Obama administration must make more vigorous efforts with respect to the many important treaties awaiting Senate approval."