Analyst mind, advocate disposition. Senior Director @NTI_WMD, Research Fellow @CISSMaryland. Previously @ManagingtheAtom, @StimsonCenter. Opinions my own.
Arlington, VA
Joined January 2011
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The Trump admin is proposing a 7% cut to @NNSANews nonproliferation programs—diverting funds to likely unnecessary nuclear weapons work. Doesn't sound like much, until you see the long term trend...
Nickolas Roth retweeted
You've read the latest Nuclear Security Index, but have you analyzed the data?
If not - check out this great blog from our @ScovillePF Simon Thorpe on 5 things you should know!
Nickolas Roth retweeted
Smoke detectors = one gram at most.
Pictured Soviet smoke detector Pu-240 holder contains 1 milligram of Plutonium. 1000 detectors = 1 gram.
Unusable in the nuclear bomb, anyway.
justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/massa… A shocking story about a Massachusetts man who obtained plutonium-a key building block for building nuclear weapons-from Russia and sold it to dozens while also stockpiling illegal firearms. Many questions...
Nickolas Roth retweeted
"Saudis have not ruled out developing nuclear weapons, U.S. intel assesses." The finding reinforces concerns about Donald Trump’s proposed nuclear agreement, which fails to require the toughest IAEA inpx. and provides a pathway to transfer enrichment tech wapo.st/3VzeoVk
Nickolas Roth retweeted
This vague proposal been tried and failed to gain traction since 2019. If Trump is serious, he should propose to Xi they start regular, bilateral talks on risk reduction/arms control involving senior officials and experts. See ow.ly/yiSH50ZRRJY ow.ly/HwFV50ZRRJX
Nickolas Roth retweeted
The NTI Index provides countries and areas with an agenda for action to usher in a new era of nuclear security leadership: specific recommendations tied to the data that governments can implement to close the gaps identified. Learn more about the recommendations at NTIIndex.org.
Nickolas Roth retweeted
The 2026 NTI Nuclear Security Index reveals an alarming deterioration in nuclear security conditions in Russia and the United States, the countries that bear the greatest responsibility for global nuclear security as custodians of the vast majority of the world’s weapons-usable nuclear materials. Learn more about our Index and recommendations at NTIIndex.org.
Nickolas Roth retweeted
Read more about our report at NTIIndex.org.
A new expert report assesses a “dramatic deterioration” in nuclear safety conditions in the United States, due primarily to the “erosion of the independence” of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission under the Trump administration. wapo.st/4xZjUz4
Nickolas Roth retweeted
The ZNPP has been without off-site power for more than a week and is currently relying on emergency diesel generators (EDGs) to provide the electricity needed for essential nuclear safety and security functions, IAEA Director General @rafaelmgrossi said today, underlining the importance of ensuring the site has sufficient diesel fuel available.
iaea.org/newscenter/pressrel…
After years of occupation, this is a dangerous escalation.
The IAEA has been informed of three drone incidents at the site of the Zaporizhzhya NPP earlier this week, underlining constant dangers to nuclear safety during the military conflict.
One drone attack on 25 August reportedly occurred near the cooling pond, injuring two plant employees. The following day, another drone detonated on the site of the dry spent nuclear fuel storage while a third drone - also on 26 August - reportedly hit the sprinkling device of the ZNPP’s power units system. Radiation levels at the site remain normal.
DG @rafaelmgrossi says any attack on NPP sites is unacceptable and calls again for maximum military restraint to avoid the risk of a nuclear accident.
Important piece by @pmalonedc: Hindering the DNFSB's mission to protect public health and safety at DOE defense nuclear facilities is a danger to workers and the communities around these facilities. seattletimes.com/seattle-new…
A really thoughtful piece: India's Nuclear Paradox: Expansion Without Accountability dailytimes.com.pk/1526583/in… via @dailytimespak
Nickolas Roth retweeted
BREAKING NEWS: Michelle Sampson of @NRCgov just said they have heard from a potential advanced reactor applicant who wants to use bomb-usable HIGHLY ENRICHED URANIUM in their design. This is beyond the pale.
There have now been at least two successful attacks like this related to Kudankulam.
reuters.com/world/india/file…
"Nuclear strategists have argued that focusing too much on the humanitarian impacts of using nuclear weapons could undermine national nuclear deterrence efforts by signaling that the US might not use its weapons out of concern for the climate." physicstoday.aip.org/feature…
Considering new nuclear weapons? Study shows small release from a major pit-production fire could cause up to 21 latent cancer fatalities, 3x more cancers, tens of km² of contamination needing billions in cleanup, & possible evacuations @seb6philippe
tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.…
"The next two decades of progress will require sustained political commitment, technical cooperation, resources, and the continuation of essential international forums, like the Oslo Symposium."
Read more from @Nickolas_Roth in our recent blog post. ⤵️
nti.org/risky-business/minim…
TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi & Daini plants now join Kashiwazaki-Kariwa on the list of sites where sensitive antiterrorism info wasn't kept in controlled storage as required. Physical security only works if information security keeps pace.
japantoday.com/category/nati…
