Arms Control

The US withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2002, followed by Russian violations and the subsequent US withdrawal from the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty, have made the early 21st century a difficult period for arms control. The future of arms control, both for the strategic nuclear capabilities incorporated in New START and for non-strategic nuclear weapons is unclear. Moreover, emerging technologies like hypersonics and cyber assets, as well as the increasing militarization of space, are affecting the traditional arms control paradigm.

Content

Report

Mar 9, 2026

Strategy for a new nuclear age

By Michael Albertson, Paul Amato, Henry "Trey" Obering, Ankit Panda, Kingston Reif, Amy Woolf

As it carries out strikes on Iran's nuclear program, the United States confronts a wider and ever more complex landscape of nuclear threats, with Russia, North Korea, and China all boosting their arsenals. In this new nuclear age, how should US policymakers think about force size, arms control, and missile defense?

Arms Control China

Issue Brief

Feb 20, 2026

Four options for arms control after New START

By Amy Woolf

With the last quantitative limit on the world's largest nuclear arsenals now expired, Washington finds itself in a new and uncertain era, with less clarity about Russia’s nuclear forces, plans to upgrade its own, and growing concern about China's. The best option may be trilateral talks—but not about a new arms control treaty.

Arms Control China

Issue Brief

Dec 22, 2025

Is extending the New START limits in the US national security interest?

By Greg Weaver

This issue brief will ask and answer the question of whether extending the New START limits is in the US national security interest.

Arms Control Nuclear Deterrence

In the News

Nov 7, 2025

Ruggiero in the Washington Post on Trump’s nuclear testing announcement

On November 6, Forward Defense nonresident senior fellow Anthony Ruggiero was quoted in an a Washington Post article entitled “Trump’s ill-defined nuclear test threat compels a response from Putin,” in which he discussed Trump’s motivation to restart nuclear testing.

Arms Control Nuclear Deterrence

In the News

Nov 3, 2025

Kroenig in Fox News on nuclear tests

On October 31, Matthew Kroenig, Atlantic Council vice president and Scowcroft Center senior director, was interviewed on Fox News about President Trump’s call to resume nuclear testing. He discussed the concerns that Russia and China are conducting nuclear tests in an undetectable manner.

Arms Control Nuclear Nonproliferation

In the News

Oct 31, 2025

Kroenig in Fox News on US nuclear tests

On October 31, Atlantic Council vice president and Scowcroft Center senior director Matthew Kroenig was quoted in an article in Fox News. He argues that President Trump’s call to resume nuclear testing may be referring to nuclear-powered weapon delivery systems.

Arms Control International Norms

In the News

Oct 30, 2025

Kroenig in Foreign Policy urges United States to not extend New START

On October 16, Atlantic Council vice president and Scowcroft Center senior director Matthew Kroenig published an article in Foreign Policy titled, “It’s Time to Stop New START.” He argues that the Trump administration should not extend the nuclear arms control treaty with Russia and should instead expand its nuclear arsenal to deter China.

Arms Control China

In the News

Oct 14, 2025

Kroenig quoted in the Wall Street Journal on New-START Treaty

On October 5, Atlantic Council vice president and Scowcroft Center senior director Matthew Kroenig was quoted in an article in the Wall Street Journal. He argues against extending the New START arms control agreement in order to expand the US nuclear arsenal to compete with China.

Arms Control China

MENASource

Oct 10, 2025

Why Lebanon is stuck in the middle on Hezbollah disarmament

By Nicholas Blanford

Lebanon finds itself caught between the rock of US pressure for Hezbollah’s disarmament and the hard place of Hezbollah refusing to do so.

Arms Control Extremism

MENASource

Aug 13, 2025

What to know about the history (and future) of the Hezbollah disarmament question

By Kristian Patrick Alexander

Domestic opposition and international demands have brought the question of Hezbollah’s arms to the fore, placing the group in an increasingly precarious position.

Arms Control Conflict
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Experts

Fellow

Khosro Sayeh Isfahani

Former Researcher

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arms Control Civil Society

Staff

Emily E. Kim

Program Assistant

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Korea Security & Defense
Josh Kirshner is a nonresident senior fellow in the GeoStrategy Initiative at the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security.

Fellow

Josh Kirshner

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Arms Control Defense Policy

Fellow

Natasha Lander Finch

Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Arms Control Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Vytautas Leškevičius

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Arms Control Crisis Management

Fellow

Robert Nurick

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Arms Control Eastern Europe
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