Analysis / CommentaryWe Need More Off-Ramps for Nuclear CrisesByHeather Williams and Nicholas AdamopoulosPublished May 13, 2025States should develop off-ramps—such as crisis communications, third-party mediation, and narrative manipulation—now and in advance of crises in order to reduce the risk of nuclear use.
Analysis / CommentaryRussian Inconsistency on Arms Control Is an Opportunity for EuropeByHeather WilliamsPublished May 12, 2025While Russia has been inconsistent in its messaging about arms control, Moscow has remained consistent in insisting that European nuclear powers be part of any future agreement—both messages present challenges, but also opportunities for the future of arms control.
Analysis / CommentaryRevising Missile Controls Is Necessary to Help Allies and Prevent New Nuclear StatesByPranay Vaddi and Ola CraftPublished May 6, 2025Trump’s defense agenda could benefit from the Biden administration’s final MTCR reforms, which align with Trump’s goals to strengthen the U.S. industrial base while building allied capabilities, deterring adversaries, and preventing nuclear proliferation.
Analysis / CommentaryCSIS European Trilateral Track 2 Nuclear DialoguesByHeather WilliamsPublished Apr 9, 2025Political shifts and a rapidly changing security environment continue to reinforce the importance of close collaboration and unity between the United States, the United Kingdom, and France as responsible nuclear weapons states and NATO alliance members.
Analysis / CommentaryWhy Does the United States Need a More Flexible Nuclear Force?ByHeather Williams and Lachlan MackenziePublished Apr 9, 2025Deterrence is emerging as a theme for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, but questions remain about the Trump administration’s ability to deliver and maintain the nation’s nuclear deterrent.
Analysis / CommentaryWhat Factors Drive U.S.-Israeli Differences on Iran’s Nuclear Challenge?ByDoreen Horschig and Bailey SchiffPublished Apr 9, 2025U.S.-Israeli differences over the Iranian nuclear challenge are growing. With Washington signaling interests in diplomacy and Israel advocating for military action, their diverging strategies could affect strategic alignment and coordination.
Analysis / CommentaryCan France and the United Kingdom Replace the U.S. Nuclear Umbrella?ByDoreen Horschig and Astrid ChevreuilPublished Mar 13, 2025As doubts grow over U.S. nuclear commitments, Germany’s new chancellor has sparked debate on whether France and the United Kingdom could provide a European nuclear umbrella. But with strategic and doctrinal hurdles ahead, is Europe ready to reshape its nuclear deterrence?
Analysis / CommentaryU.S. Sanctions on Pakistan’s Missile Program Highlight Nuclear Threats from South AsiaByDiya AshtakalaPublished Jan 29, 2025On December 19, 2024, the United States imposed sanctions on Pakistani entities over concerns about the development of a long-range missile capable of targeting the United States. Termed an “emerging threat,” the move underscores growing nuclear risks beyond South Asia.
Analysis / CommentaryUpdating Nuclear Command, Control, and CommunicationByHeather WilliamsPublished Jan 3, 2025Nuclear command and control will be an essential piece of nuclear modernization plans. To confront two-peer competition, the United States should stay apace with modernization plans and will require constant innovation.
Analysis / CommentaryEscalation as a Path to Peace: Risk Tolerance and Negotiations in UkraineByLachlan MackenziePublished Jan 3, 2025The incoming President Donald Trump has made achieving a rapid, negotiated settlement to the war in Ukraine a cornerstone of his foreign policy agenda. It is not clear, however, that the Kremlin sees a need to offer concessions.