Kazakhstan’s reactor decision highlights a key strategic reality: infrastructure partnerships shape geopolitical alignment for decades. In a new NGNN blog, Alexei (Frank) Hoffman explores what the U.S. absence from the deal means.

In On the Horizon Vol 8, 2025 PONI Nuclear Scholar Eliana Johns talks about how China’s ongoing and rapid modernization of its nuclear forces raises questions about the drivers behind the buildup. Read the full article here

CSIS's Joseph Rodgers and Bailey Schiff break down Operation Epic Fury and the preliminary US-Israeli strikes launched on February 28th; answering key questions from the objectives of Operation Epic Fury to the long-term outlook. Read the full analysis here: www.csis.org/analysis/ope...

In On Theories of Change, Heather Williams examines the divide between step-by-step arms control and the delegitimization strategy behind the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Read her full analysis here:

Marcus X. Alan is a certified acquisitions professional and U.S. Army Reserve officer. He currently serves as the Fire Control Lead for the U.S. Navy’s SLCM-N program at Strategic Systems Programs (SSP), where he supports the U.S. deterrence mission. nuclearnetwork.csis.org/programs/nuc...

CSIS Project on Nuclear Issues, Nuclear expert Joseph Rodgers discusses the targets that were hit during the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. Watch the full video:

In On the Horizon Vol. 8, 2025, Nuclear Scholar Shaquille James argues China’s nuclear “breakout” has expanded the sophistication, survivability, and size of its arsenal—but much of it builds on decades-old programs, not a sudden strategic shift. Read the article here

#NEW NGNN blog post from Alexei (Frank) Hoffman "Kazakhstan chose Russia and China for its reactors — Washington wasn't even in the room. Read his full analysis here:

In On the Horizon Vol 8, 2025 Nuclear Scholar Alvina Ahmed argues that Russia’s new systems—Kinzhal, Tsirkon, and Oreshnik—have provided limited tactical or strategic advantage in Ukraine and are more so, tools of psychological coercion than battlefield game changers.

New episode of the Negotiator Files is live! In this episode, Ambassador Ronald Lehman discusses his role as the chief U.S. negotiator of the first Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I). youtu.be/SP4fi_kPV7M

In On the Horizon Vol 8, 2025 CSIS PONI Nuclear Scholar Philipp Rombach analyzes how fictional narratives and historical analogies play a critical role in shaping how the integration of AI into the nuclear enterprise is understood. Read the full article:

Reminder: Applications for the PONI Congressional Fellowship at CSIS are due tonight Wednesday, Feb 18 at 11:59pm (EST)! Apply here:

New CSIS PONI Analysis from Joseph Rodgers and Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. examine satellite imagery from China’s Lop Nur test site, assessing claims that 2020 activity may have gone beyond a “zero-yield” standard. Read the article here: www.csis.org/analysis/sat...

The future of arms control won’t look like the past. In a new piece for Bulletin for Atomic Scientists, CSIS PONI experts Joseph Rodgers and Doreen Horschig, PhD outline three practical proposals for managing nuclear competition in a post–New START world

#NEW: Announcing the 2025 Consensus Statement of the European Trilateral Track 2 Nuclear Dialogues, a collaboration between the @csis.org, @rusi.bsky.social, and La Fondation pour la recherche stratégique (FRS). Read the Consensus Statement here: www.csis.org/analysis/csi...

APPLICATION EXTENDED: The PONI Congressional Fellowship at CSIS have been extended to, Feb 18 at 11:59pm EST! This fellowship is designed for early- and mid-career Congressional staff working on national security, defense, foreign policy, or strategic issues.

We're excited to announce the 2026 Nuclear Scholars Initiative! Meet the cohort: nuclearnetwork.csis.org/programs/nuc...

🔦 Labs Nuclear Scholars Spotlight! 🔦 Michelle Frybarger is a W88 Systems Engineer at Los Alamos National Laboratory. She holds an MS in Biomedical Engineering from South Dakota School of Mines & Technology

Reminder: Applications for the PONI Congressional Fellowship at CSIS are due tonight Wednesday, Feb 11 at 11:59pm (EST)! This nine-month fellowship is designed for early- and mid-career Congressional staff working on national security, defense, foreign policy, or strategic issues. Apply here:

CSIS Project on Nuclear Issues (PONI) expert @heatherwilly.bsky.social argues that New START’s expiration does not need to trigger an arms race or a major U.S. nuclear buildup but could instead open the door to a new phase of arms control. Read her analysis here: www.csis.org/analysis/thr...

In On the Horizon Vol. 8 (2025), CSIS PONI Nuclear Scholar Ariel Phuphaphantakarn explores how AI can enhance nuclear deterrence while also creating psychological risks, including illusion, anxiety, and information overload that can distort human judgment. Read here: www.csis.org/analysis/hor...

Reminder: Applications for the PONI Congressional Fellowship at CSIS are due Wednesday, Feb 11! Early/mid-career Congressional staff working on defense, foreign policy, or strategic issues — apply now to build bipartisan leadership skills. Apply here: www.csis.org/programs/pro...

🚨 Applications are open for the Scoville Peace Fellowship (@scovillepf.bsky.social)! Recent grads can work 6–9 months with leading DC NGOs on peace & security issues. 📅 Deadline: Feb 27 ℹ️ Info session tomorrow Apply: scoville.org Info: scoville.org/overview/inf...

🔦 Labs Nuclear Scholars Spotlight! 🔦 Norman Love is a Systems Engineer at @LosAlamosNatLab. Norman graduated from @UofOklahoma with a PhD. nuclearnetwork.csis.org/programs/lab...

New episode of The Negotiator Files is live! This installment features Rose Gottemoeller as she discusses her role as the chief U.S. negotiator of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START). Watch Here: The Negotiator Files:

NEW: In the latest episode of The Negotiator Files, @poni.csis.org is joined by Rose Gottemoeller to discuss her role as the chief U.S. negotiator of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START). Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbXF...

In On the Horizon Vol. 8 (2025), CSIS PONI Nuclear Scholar William J. Peck argues that the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise urgently needs modernization and that advanced manufacturing can improve efficiency, address workforce and infrastructure challenges. Read it here www.csis.org/analysis/hor...

🔦 Labs Nuclear Scholars Spotlight! 🔦 Miriam Kreher is an R&D Engineer at Los Alamos National Lab. Miriam graduated from @mit.edu with a PhD from the University of Pittsburg with a B.S. in Engineering Science. nuclearnetwork.csis.org/programs/lab...

In On the Horizon Vol. 8, 2025 PONI Nuclear Scholar Andrew Fishberg explores how AI may aid nuclear command, control, and communications but only in narrow roles, as overreliance can pose serious risk. Read his full analysis here:

Arms Control 101 is a three-part video series that explores foundational ideas in arms control as well as arms control agreements, and the role of arms control in international security, including deterrence, extended deterrence, and strategic stability. Watch here:

🔦 Labs Nuclear Scholars Spotlight! 🔦 Christine Evans is an R&D Engineer at Los Alamos National Lab with the Advanced Systems Development group. Christine graduated from the @coschoolofmines.bsky.social with a MEng in Nuclear Engineering and a B.S. nuclearnetwork.csis.org/programs/lab...

🔦 Labs Nuclear Scholars Spotlight! 🔦 John Wise is a Nuclear Weapons System Engineer at @sandialabs.bsky.social. John graduated from New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology with a B.S. and M.S. in Electrical engineering. nuclearnetwork.csis.org/programs/lab...

🔦 Labs Nuclear Scholars Spotlight! 🔦 Emily Greenfield is a Policy Analyst at TechSource Inc. Emily graduated from the University of Denver with a M.A. in International Security and from the University of Georgia with a B.A. in International Affairs.

HAPPENING NOW: Join CSIS Defense for a conversation with @heatherwilly.bsky.social, Kari Bingen, and Tom Karako on the Arsenal of Freedom tour and what it means for the U.S. defense industry, tech innovation, and deterrence and warfighting capabilities. Watch live here:

#NEW NGNN blog post from Kobe Young "SILEX could materially strengthen civilian nuclear fuel supply and energy security, but its efficiency, compact footprint, and reliance on laser technologies also create new challenges for safeguards and NPT norms." nuclearnetwork.csis.org/silex-laser-...

🔦 Labs Nuclear Scholars Spotlight! 🔦 Maggie Wilbanks is a Principal Member of Technical Staff at @sandialabs.bsky.social. Maggie graduated from Georgia Tech with a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering and holds a B.S from North Carolina State University. nuclearnetwork.csis.org/programs/lab...

New episode of The Negotiator Files is live! Ambassador Lewis A. Dunn—U.S. ambassador to the 1985 NPT Review Conference and a senior nonproliferation official in the Reagan administration—on his experience. Watch here: youtu.be/rcDg5UYoblg

New @theeln.bsky.social commentary by Bailey Schiff & Diya Ashtakala: Emerging technologies could help break entrenched debates at the 2026 RevCon. A robust ET discussion can show the NPT's adaptability & boost innovation in non-proliferation. europeanleadershipnetwork.org/commentary/t...

🔦 Labs Nuclear Scholars Spotlight! 🔦 Sean Winkelpleck is a Research and Development Engineer at @sandialabs.bsky.social. Sean is currently pursuing a M.S. in Electrical Engineering from @colorado.edu and graduated from @usf.edu with a B.S. nuclearnetwork.csis.org/programs/lab...

APPLY TODAY: PONI is happy to provide a platform for emerging voices and is looking for new submissions. If you would like to be a guest author for the Next Generation Nuclear Network blog, please apply on our website:

🔦 Labs Scholars Spotlight! 🔦 Wesley Odom is a Research Scientist and Engineer at @sandialabs.bsky.social. Wesley holds a PhD and a M.S. from @lifeatpurdue.bsky.social and a B.S. from Oral Roberts University. nuclearnetwork.csis.org/programs/lab...

REMINDER: Applications for the inaugural Congressional Fellowship are open until February 11! Early and mid-career Hill staffers with responsibilities related to national security, defense, foreign policy, or strategic forces are welcome to apply. Apply here: nuclearnetwork.csis.org/programs/con...

🔦 Labs Scholars Spotlight! 🔦 Toni Isenberg is an Engineering Program Lead at @sandialabs.bsky.social. Toni graduated from @lifeatpurdue.bsky.social with a M.S. in Corporate Communications and from ENMU with a B.B.A. in Business Administration and Management. nuclearnetwork.csis.org/programs/lab...

PONI is now accepting applications for its inaugural Congressional Fellowship! Early- and mid-career Hill staffers working on national security, defense, foreign policy, or strategic forces are encouraged to apply. Deadline to apply: Feb. 11. Apply here: nuclearnetwork.csis.org/programs/con...

🔦 Labs Nuclear Scholars Spotlight! 🔦 Denise Cano is a Systems Engineer at @sandialabs.bsky.social. Denise graduated from @unm.edu with a M.S. and B.S. in Chemical Engineering. nuclearnetwork.csis.org/programs/lab...

On the Horizon — written by @csis.org PONI’s 2025 Nuclear Scholars and edited by @doreenhorschig.bsky.social — offers fresh research on nuclear strategy, arms control & emerging tech from tomorrow’s experts. Read it here: www.csis.org/analysis/hor...

🔦 Labs Nuclear Scholars Spotlight! 🔦 Sarah Hale is a Mechanical Engineer at @sandialabs.bsky.social. Sarah graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a M.S. and from @okstate.edu with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. nuclearnetwork.csis.org/programs/lab...

🔦 Labs Nuclear Scholars Spotlight! 🔦 Samreen Singh is a Policy Analyst at Leidos. Samreen graduated from American University with a Master of Public Policy and from George Mason University with a B.A. in Government and International Politics. nuclearnetwork.csis.org/programs/lab...

HAPPENING NOW: Join CSIS for a conversation with @heatherwilly.bsky.social, Kari Bingen, and Tom Karako on the Trump Administration's New National Security Strategy and how it changes America's current orientation, actions, and tool set. Watch live here:

HAPPENING NOW: Join CSIS PONI for the launch event for the 2025 Project Atom report. The event covers different drivers of escalation with China and the dynamics of managing them. Watch live here: