Today, there is an urgent need for reconciling the benefits that are likely to be accrued from the continuous advancement of the life sciences with the potential risks arising from the availability, accessibility, and affordability of the knowledge, tools, and technologies necessary for conducting scientific work. Within the context of the BTWC, biological security education and awareness are considered essential to strengthening the full and effective implementation of the Convention.

Relations between India and Pakistan have remained hostile, since partition, owing to varied geopolitical reasons. They both compete against each other in conventional and nuclear arms. While the threat of CBW remains low in the region, it cannot be completely ruled out.

Russia’s high-profile opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s poisoning has led to intense speculation about not only the perpetrator but also its timing and motive. Widely conflicting diagnosis emerging from Russia, where Navalny was first treated, to Germany, where he was airlifted for further medical treatment, have further fanned this speculation. Unsurprisingly, the needle of suspicion has fallen on the Russian government.

Syria acquired the capability to produce chemical weapons in order to counter Israel’s chemical weapons program. It imported chemical weapon precursor and dual-use production equipment from other countries including Russia, China, India and North Korea. Bashar al Assad inherited a huge stockpile of chemical weapons with production, manufacturing, storage and research facilities scattered over Damascus, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Aleppo.

Chemical attacks are not normal crimes as they have important consequences for national and international security, but they are also crimes that law enforcement authorities are obliged to investigate and, if possible, resolve through national criminal procedures. Salisbury case highlights the complexity of an investigation. Although, there are now sufficient cases of attacks with chemical agents to justify a systematic response, however, there still remains a doubt whether that law enforcement authorities are prepared for criminal cases with national and international security implications.