Rising Proliferation: Nuclear Risks in a Post-Treaty World
Virtual Briefing Series
Thursday, May 21, 2026 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET
The recent expiration of the New START treaty between the U.S. and Russia marks a structural shift in the global nuclear order, removing the last legally binding constraints on the world’s two largest arsenals. With no successor framework in place, the bilateral arms control architecture that has underpinned stability for decades is effectively suspended. In its absence, risks of vertical and horizontal proliferation are intensifying. According to the UN assessment, for the first time in decades, the number of nuclear warheads and nuclear testing is rising, and global military spending climbed to $2.7 trillion in 2025, an increase of 2.9% from the previous year. New records show that China is the fastest-growing nuclear power globally and is significantly expanding its nuclear weapons infrastructure, raising concerns about a potential new global arms race as major arms control agreements weaken.
At the same time, emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, advanced sensors, and precision-strike capabilities, are reshaping the foundations of deterrence, complicating traditional approaches to verification and monitoring. This discussion will examine how the erosion of arms control is accelerating proliferation pressures, how technological change is altering the strategic landscape, and whether a new, credible system of nuclear restraint can still be constructed.
Join us for an insightful virtual discussion on the new risks of global proliferation on Thursday, May 21st, from 12 PM to 1 PM ET, featuring David Albright, a Physicist and Founder of the non-profit Institute for Science and International Security, Alexandra Bell, President and CEO of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, and Dr. Stacie Pettyjohn, Senior Fellow and Director of Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security.
THIS SESSION IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
SPEAKERS:
David Albright
David Albright, a physicist, is Founder and President of the non-profit Institute for Science and International Security in Washington, DC. He has conducted numerous assessments of secret nuclear weapons programs throughout the world, the means states use to obtain nuclear weapons capabilities while defeating export controls and sanctions, and ways to thwart proliferation. His work combines technical nuclear expertise with policy relevant analysis. During his career, Albright has testified numerous times on nuclear issues before the U.S. Congress and advised numerous governments and organizations. He has spoken to many groups, technical workshops, and conferences. He has published hundreds of reports on the Institute’s website and also published in Science, Scientific American, the New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Politico, The National Interest, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Science and Global Security, The Nonproliferation Review, Washington Quarterly, and Arms Control Today. The media have frequently cited Albright, and he has appeared often on U.S. and overseas television and radio. Albright has authored or co-authored nine books, including Revisiting South Africa’s Nuclear Weapons Program, Illicit Trade Networks—Connecting the Dots, Peddling Peril: How the Secret Nuclear Trade Arms America’s Enemies, Solving the North Korean Nuclear Puzzle, Taiwan’s Former Nuclear Weapons Program, and Iran’s Perilous Pursuit of Nuclear Weapons. He received a Master of Science in physics from Indiana University in 1980, a Master of Science in mathematics from Wright State University in 1977, and a Bachelor of Science from Wright State University in 1975. Albright also received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Wright State University in 2007.
Alexandra Bell
Alexandra Bell is the president and CEO of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. A noted policy expert and former diplomat, she oversees the Bulletin’s publishing programs, management of the Doomsday Clock, and a growing set of activities around nuclear risk, climate change, and disruptive technologies. Before joining the Bulletin, Alexandra Bell served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Affairs in the Bureau of Arms Control, Deterrence, and Stability (ADS) at the U.S. Department of State. Previously, she has worked at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation and the Council for a Livable World, Ploughshares Fund, and the Center for American Progress.
Dr. Stacie Pettyjohn
Stacie Pettyjohn is a senior fellow and director of the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). She is a recognized expert in U.S. defense strategy, force planning, military posture, airpower, and wargaming. Her current work explores the future of warfare, with a particular focus on the operational implications of emerging technologies—including artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and drones—and the evolving dynamics of nuclear deterrence in an increasingly multipolar world.
Pettyjohn brings a wealth of policy experience and analytic rigor to her role. She recently chaired the Total Force Integration Subcommittee of the Reserve Forces Policy Board, a federal advisory committee within the Office of the Secretary of Defense, where she helped shape guidance on optimizing active-reserve force integration. She has also worked in the Joint Staff’s Strategy, Plans, and Policy office, supporting efforts related to nuclear command and control.
Prior to joining CNAS, Pettyjohn spent over a decade as a political scientist at the RAND Corporation, where she led critical studies on airpower, force posture, multidomain operations, and strategic planning. From 2019 to 2021, she directed the Strategy and Doctrine Program within Project Air Force, and from 2014 to 2020, she coled RAND’s Center for Gaming, spearheading high-level defense wargames.
Her writing and commentary have been featured in top-tier outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, War on the Rocks, and Breaking Defense. Her insights have also been featured in The Economist, the Financial Times, and major broadcast media, including NPR, NBC, ABC, Fox News and the BBC.
Pettyjohn holds a PhD and an MA in foreign affairs from the University of Virginia and a BA in history and political science from The Ohio State University.
THIS SESSION IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
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