The DEFCON Warning System™

Independent DEFCON monitoring and nuclear-threat analysis since 1984.

NATO

Is the West Preparing the Public for War with Russia?

Western governments are increasingly asking their populations to consider the possibility of conflict with Russia. Warnings about national resilience now sit alongside

The Hidden Bombs: What You Don’t See in Official Nuclear Counts

Nuclear weapons are often discussed in terms of official treaties and declared stockpiles. But lurking behind those official numbers are additional warheads

Who Can Launch in 15 Minutes? A Look at Nuclear Readiness Around the World

In a nuclear confrontation, minutes—not hours—determine outcomes. The size of a nuclear arsenal is only one part of the equation. Equally critical—and

Russia is escalating its dangerous shadow war against NATO, and there are fears it could get a lot worse

Far beyond the front lines in Ukraine, Russia is waging a different kind of warfare against NATO. It is a covert, low-intensity

NATO allies worry the US can’t defend Europe and counter China, but there’s a way

China’s threat to Taiwan also poses a profound dilemma for NATO — does it tie up its most powerful ally from European

China’s Expanding Arctic Ambitions Challenge the U.S. and NATO

As the Arctic summer melts the polar bear tracks on the sea ice around Norway’s Spitsbergen Island, dozens of Chinese scientists are

World War War III May Already Have Started—in the Shadows

Britain’s signals intelligence spy chief raised eyebrows this week with warnings that Russia is coordinating both cyberattacks and physical acts of sabotage

The Looming Ukraine Debacle

With Ukraine’s military situation deteriorating, NATO foreign ministers have gathered in Brussels to develop a long-term plan to deliver the necessary supplies

The ‘Real Nuclear Crisis’ Fear Behind a Single Pentagon Document

The United States may be looking to station nuclear weapons in the United Kingdom for the first time in 15 years—and the

Sweden’s NATO Accession Limits Putin’s Options

After months of diplomatic delays, Sweden can now join NATO—a genuine triumph for the Biden administration. This development has enormous geostrategic implications

NATO to surge troops to Russian border

NATO plans to surge troops to Russia’s border as part of an effort to become a “war-fighting alliance,” the New York Times

The Impact of Finland’s NATO Membership on Trans-Atlantic Security Relations

As one of the most stable and prosperous countries in the world, Finland’s decision to join NATO is a critical development in