The disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991 dismantled a highly centralized multi-national government, leaving behind 15 newly independent states, an economy in chaotic transition, and an enormous nuclear weapons complex. The sudden meltdown of the military structures that had managed the Soviet nuclear arsenal for decades left destructive weapons, technologies, and materials exposed and […]
Ask an Expert: Senator Richard Lugar on Cooperative Threat Reduction
Senator Richard Lugar represented the state of Indiana from 1977-2013. Along with Senator Sam Nunn (D-GA), he authored the legislation that established the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program in 1991. He currently serves as the president of The Lugar Center, a non-profit organization in Washington, D.C. [This interview has been edited for length and clarity.] Nukes […]
U.S. Nuclear Weapons in Europe
By: Erin Connolly The recent upheaval in Turkey has highlighted an uncomfortable fact: The United States holds approximately 160 tactical nuclear weapons outside of its own borders. In fact, all of these nonstrategic nuclear weapons are deployed in Europe at six bases in five countries, including Turkey. In theory, these weapons are in place to […]
10-Year GICNT Anniversary: A Critical Time for Nuclear Security
The Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT) is an international nuclear security partnership established in 2006. Co-chaired by Russia and the United States, the organization began with 13 states and has grown significantly to 86 partner states as of 2016. This expansion has proven to be a critical asset in improving nuclear security best […]
Fresh Ideas on Nuclear Security
At a symposium titled “Fresh Ideas for the Future,” Harvard Belfer Center nuclear expert Francesca Giovannini summarized a research paper in which she calls for a collective approach to nuclear security.
