Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 5 days ago
The era of nuclear reductions is over. After decades of post-Cold War action to reduce the number and role of nuclear weapons in military doctrines, all nine countries are modernizing their arsenals once again. These collective actions will keep nuclear weapons in global stockpiles for at least the next 75 years. Meanwhile, these same countries are becoming increasingly less transparent about their nuclear forces — further muddying the waters of who is deploying what, and why. Although nuclear policy is often dictated exclusively at the highest levels of government, these decisions have ground-level implications for people around the globe. In an environment where nuclear reliance and secrecy are growing, knowing what is happening, how it is happening, and why it is happening are critical components to developing effective policy responses, holding governments to account, and informing the public of changes that affect them. Nuclear expert Matt Korda will talk about this arms build-up, global trends and the state of world nuclear security. Korda is the Associate Director for the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, where he co-authors the Nuclear Notebook — an authoritative open-source estimate of global nuclear forces and trends. Korda’s presentation will be followed by an onstage conversation with Nobel Peace Prize winner Beatrie Fihn, Director of Lex International Fund, and Robert K. Elder, President and CEO of Outrider Foundation. Sponsored by Outrider Foundation.
Con: Robert Elder (president and CEO Outrider Foundation), Beatrice Fihn (director Lex International Fund), Matt Korda (associate director Nuclear Information Project Federation of American Scientists)
The era of nuclear reductions is over. After decades of post-Cold War action to reduce the number and role of nuclear weapons in military doctrines, all nine countries are modernizing their arsenals once again. These collective actions will keep nuclear weapons in global stockpiles for at least the next 75 years. Meanwhile, these same countries are becoming increasingly less transparent about their nuclear forces — further muddying the waters of who is deploying what, and why. Although nuclear policy is often dictated exclusively at the highest levels of government, these decisions have ground-level implications for people around the globe. In an environment where nuclear reliance and secrecy are growing, knowing what is happening, how it is happening, and why it is happening are critical components to developing effective policy responses, holding governments to account, and informing the public of changes that affect them. Nuclear expert Matt Korda will talk about this arms build-up, global trends and the state of world nuclear security. Korda is the Associate Director for the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, where he co-authors the Nuclear Notebook — an authoritative open-source estimate of global nuclear forces and trends. Korda’s presentation will be followed by an onstage conversation with Nobel Peace Prize winner Beatrie Fihn, Director of Lex International Fund, and Robert K. Elder, President and CEO of Outrider Foundation. Sponsored by Outrider Foundation.
Con: Robert Elder (president and CEO Outrider Foundation), Beatrice Fihn (director Lex International Fund), Matt Korda (associate director Nuclear Information Project Federation of American Scientists)
