Nuclear Weapons

Growing nuclear risks in times of geopolitical tension.

In early 2023, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that “we are at the highest risk in decades of a nuclear war that could start by accident or design”.

Geopolitical tensions not seen since the height of the Cold War have led to the demise of arms control regimes. Profound mistrust between nations is pushing the world towards a nuclear arms race. And misunderstandings and worst-case thinking could undermine the nuclear taboo that has held since 1945.

UNIDIR works to reduce the existential risk of nuclear war and pave the way for nuclear disarmament through conducting research, providing advice and support to member-states, and promoting international dialogue.

James Revill

James Revill

Head of Programme
Space Security, Weapons of Mass Destruction
Pavel Podvig

Pavel Podvig

Senior Researcher
Weapons of Mass Destruction
Chen Zak Kane

Chen Zak Kane

Head of Project
Middle East WMD-Free Zone
Andrey Baklitskiy

Andrey Baklitskiy

Senior Researcher
Weapons of Mass Destruction
Abdolrasool Divsallar

Abdolrasool Divsallar

Senior Researcher
Middle East WMD-Free Zone
Sarah Erickson

Sarah Erickson

Research Assistant
Space Security, Weapons of Mass Destruction
Almudena Azcárate Ortega

Almudena Azcárate Ortega

Researcher
Space Security, Weapons of Mass Destruction
Sarah Ruth Opatowski

Sarah Ruth Opatowski

Research Assistant
Middle East WMD-Free Zone, Weapons of Mass Destruction