When the Soviet Union collapsed, Ukraine inherited custody of roughly 1900 strategic nuclear warheads. But they gave these up in exchange for security assurances from Russia, the US, and the UK, including a pledge to respect Ukraine’s borders and never use force against it. So would Ukraine have been invaded if they hadn’t given up those nuclear weapons?
Read MoreNuclear
Why does Russia use satellites in strange orbits to watch for nuclear launches?
A typical geostationary satellite orbits the Earth roughly over the equator. But a lot of Russian military and intelligence satellites fly very strange orbits that linger far above the Arctic. So why do Russian satellites operate like this, and what impact does it have on geopolitics?
Read MoreWhy is New Zealand evolving geopolitically?
Many people only know New Zealand from Lord of the Rings. But geopolitically, it’s a fascinating case, because after decades of hedging between China and the West, it’s moving firmly to one side while tightening its hold on the islands tied to it, behaving less like a neutral small state and more like a regional power. So why are New Zealand’s geopolitical dynamics changing?
Read MoreWhy does the US still need nuclear command aircraft?
For 29 straight years, the US kept at least one nuclear command and control aircraft in the sky at all times. Each one carried an Air Force general who could take command of the nation's nuclear bombers and missiles if Washington, DC and Strategic Air Command headquarters were destroyed.
Read MoreHow do nuclear powers decide to end the world?
in Global
If a nuclear missile launched toward the US, it would take 20-30 minutes from an infrared satellite’s first detection to the retaliatory missiles leaving their silos. The president’s actual decision window is compressed to around six minutes, within which they must decide whether the attack is legitimate and how to respond, effectively choosing whether to end the world. But how do these nuclear launch procedures vary from country to country, and what do they reveal?
Read MoreWhy do nuclear weapons expire?
in Global
Most people don’t know that nuclear weapons go bad, like bananas getting overripe on your kitchen counter. It’s true: tritium decays by roughly 5.5% every year, and without it a nuclear warhead with a yield of 100 kilotons would yield only 0.3 kilotons. But why is this the case, and what impact does it have on geopolitics?
Read MoreWhy are some of North Korea’s most dangerous nuclear facilities so close to China?
in Asia
If you look at a map of North Korea’s nuclear facilities, you might notice that they’re mostly clustered in the west-central part of the country, north of Pyongyang, and along the east coast. But if you look a little closer near the border with China and Russia, you’ll see some unique infrastructure, including a nuclear test site and several undeclared bases that operate intercontinental ballistic missiles. So why would North Korea be putting some of their most sensitive nuclear infrastructure so close to China and Russia?
Read MoreIs Pakistan now Saudi Arabia’s nuclear shield?
in Middle East, Asia
For almost as long as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has existed, Pakistan has been one of its closest allies. In fact, many consider this relationship to be one of the closest friendships between any two countries in the world. But in 2025, the two countries signed a Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement to codify this relationship for the first time. This is an important geopolitical shift. Let’s talk about why.
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