Oppenheimer Project and The Stimson Center Co-Hosting STARTing Over? Russo-American Arms Control at a Crossroads
On February 3, the Oppenheimer Project and The Stimson Center Center will co-host a global online discussion bringing together leading American and Russian experts to examine the risks, opportunities, and pathways forward for arms control and nonproliferation.
Featuring introductory remarks by Charles Oppenheimer and Rachel Stohl, and a distinguished panel including Scott Sagan, Anton Khlopkov, and Feodor Voitolovsky, moderated by Peter Slezkine, this timely conversation will explore what comes next for strategic stability.
Read more and register here; join us for this important dialogue shaping the future of global security.
U.S. Energy Department Announces New Efforts to Boost Nuclear Fuel Supply
On Wednesday, January 28, the United States Department of Energy announced a new initiative aimed at building out the country’s nuclear fuel supply chain amid booming interest in the nuclear power industry. The initiative aims to solicit interest from states willing to host “Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses,” which would support activities across the nuclear fuel cycle – including recycling used fuel.
Matthew Bunn: How to Avoid a New Nuclear Arms Race — At Least for Now
In a new opinion essay for The Hill, Professor Matthew Bunn of the Harvard Kennedy School, makes the case for American President Donald Trump to accept Russian President Vladimir Putin’s offer to voluntarily observe the New START treaty limits for an additional year beyond the treaty’s February 5, 2026 expiration. “Spending hundreds of billions on new nuclear weapons,” Bunn says, “would not make Russia, China or the U.S. more secure.”
Iran Seeks to Avert U.S. Military Action with Talks in Ankara
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, will travel to the Turkish capital Ankara for talks aimed at preventing a US attack. This news comes as the Trump administration builds up military forces around Iran while Turkish diplomats have sought to convince Tehran it must offer concessions over its nuclear programme in negotiations with the United States if it is to avert a potentially devastating conflict.
Jessica Lovering and Hamna Tariq: Dispelling Overblown Security Risks of Nuclear Exports
In a new memo published by the Energy for Growth Hub, energy policy experts Jessica Lovering and Hamna Tariq incisively confront some of the safety concerns surrounding the growing international nuclear power industry. From proliferation and terrorism risks to the uncertain safety of new reactor designs, they argue that many popular concerns about nuclear power are overstated.
Podcast of the Week: Lucas
This week, I listened to the new episode of The Trialogue podcast, “Fyodor Lukanov: Russia’s Place in the World.” In this episode, host and friend of the Oppenheimer Project Peter Slezkine welcomed return guest Fyodor Lukanov back to the podcast. Lukanov, Editor-in-Chief of Russia in Global Affairs, shared his views on the U.S.-Russia relationship, Russian perceptions of the crises in Iran and Venezuela, and the future of negotiations over the future of Ukraine. I hope you will listen and enjoy!