Research and analysis

New challenges to countering chemical and biological warfare

Chemical and biological threats are evolving fast. The UK must invest in science and technology to stay resilient and hold perpetrators to account.

• From: Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
• Published: 1 October 2025

Documents

Eroding norms and emerging threats: the evolving challenge of chemical and biological weapons

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Despite international agreements and decades of disarmament, the use of chemical and biological weapons (CBW) continues to evolve. This analysis explores how global instability, hybrid warfare and converging technologies are reshaping the threat landscape, and what this means for UK defence and security.

Published 1 October 2025