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 ReflectionsJim 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 ReportCurtis 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.

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