In this two-part episode, the NIDS team dives into key takeaways from the 2025 Nuclear Deterrence Summit in Washington, D.C., and offers a critical analysis of the U.S. State Department’s annual implementation report on the New START Treaty.

Part 1: Deterrence Summit Reflections

• Jim shares his first experience attending a non-technical deterrence conference, highlighting the value of in-person networking, panel discussions, and the contrast between DOE/NNSA and DoD perspectives on nuclear policy.
• Adam and Curtis reflect on the ideological divide between arms control advocates and deterrence realists, noting the surprising number of disarmament voices within the NNSA community.
• The team discusses the importance of integrating technical and strategic communities to strengthen U.S. deterrence policy.

Part 2: The New START Treaty Report

• Curtis leads a sobering breakdown of the 2025 implementation report, emphasizing Russia’s suspension of participation, lack of transparency, and the implications for U.S. national security.
• The hosts debate the utility of arms control in an era of strategic competition, questioning whether the U.S. is clinging to idealism while adversaries exploit verification gaps.
• The episode closes with a powerful reminder: peace is not the absence of violence, but the presence of strength.