Archive

CATALINK

New Video Narrated by Rose Gottemoeller Spotlights “CATALINK”: A Critical Blueprint for Secure, Multilateral Crisis Communications

New Video Narrated by Rose Gottemoeller Spotlights “CATALINK”: A Critical Blueprint for Secure, Multilateral Crisis Communications

Narrated by Rose Gottemoeller, former NATO Deputy Secretary General and U.S. Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, a new three-minute animated film live today introduces CATALINK. This groundbreaking initiative is a blueprint for a dedicated, last-resort communication system designed to be the ultimate backstop to prevent or cease nuclear war.

arms race, CATALINK, crisis communications, hotlines, mesh network, nuclear, Puck, risk reduction

December 17, 2025

Here’s the Big Deal Trump and Putin Could Actually Reach in Alaska

Here’s the Big Deal Trump and Putin Could Actually Reach in Alaska

The meeting of Presidents Trump and Putin in Alaska this week presents a rare and urgent opening for both leaders to make tangible progress on nuclear arms control, IST Senior Policy Advisor Sahil V. Shah and co-author IMEMO RAS research fellow Dmitry Stefanovich argue in Politico.

arms race, CATALINK, crisis communication, New START Treaty, Russia

August 15, 2025

Securing the Signal: Mitigation Strategies to Strengthen Crisis Communication Channels

Securing the Signal: Mitigation Strategies to Strengthen Crisis Communication Channels

As global norms are challenged and emerging technologies accelerate, crisis communication systems between nuclear-armed states face urgent new threats. This report identifies four critical scenarios and outlines a matched set of mitigation strategies designed to reinforce the reliability of crisis communications in high-stakes environments.

CATALINK, cold war, crisis communications, electromagnetic pulse, EMP, escalation, miscalculation, nuclear

May 28, 2025

Live at the United Nations: IST Joins Forces with Germany and Switzerland to Push for Progress on Nuclear Risk Reduction

Live at the United Nations: IST Joins Forces with Germany and Switzerland to Push for Progress on Nuclear Risk Reduction

At NPTPrepCom last week, IST and the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation hosted a dialogue on preventing and managing nuclear crises sponsored by key CATALINK supporters, the German Federal Foreign Office and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.

CATALINK, crisis communications, disarmament, NC3, Non-Proliferation, nuclear, nuclear command and control, United Nations

May 8, 2025

Announcing Continued Support from the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and the German Federal Foreign Office for the CATALINK Initiative

Announcing Continued Support from the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and the German Federal Foreign Office for the CATALINK Initiative

The Institute for Security and Technology (IST) is pleased to announce the generous political and financial support from the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and the German Federal Foreign Office Germany to continue the CATALINK Initiative through 2027.

CATALINK, crisis communications, disarmament, mesh networks, nuclear weapons, risk reduction

January 21, 2025

The South Korea-Japan-United States Trilateral Hotline: A Reminder of the Importance of Crisis Communications

The South Korea-Japan-United States Trilateral Hotline: A Reminder of the Importance of Crisis Communications

In October 2023, a government official from South Korea announced the successful activation of a new trilateral hotline directly connecting top national security advisors from South Korea, Japan, and the United States. The hotline–which took only three months from its announcement at a Camp David summit to its activation–came about surprisingly quickly, via international dialogue, and with a clear commitment to communication from all parties.

CATALINK, Japan, nuclear risk reduction, South Korea

January 18, 2024

Strengthening Resilience in 21st Century Crisis Communications

Strengthening Resilience in 21st Century Crisis Communications

In Strengthening Resilience in 21st Century Crisis Communications, authors Alexa Wehsener and Sylvia Mishra draw on insight from a group of high-level policymakers, diplomats, and technical experts in attendance at IST's London workshop earlier this year to examine the vulnerabilities of existing crisis communications channels and offer possible solutions.

after action report, CATALINK, diplomacy, nuclear, nuclear risk reduction

July 20, 2023

Nuclear Crisis Communications: Mapping Risk Reduction Implementation Pathways

Nuclear Crisis Communications: Mapping Risk Reduction Implementation Pathways

Nuclear Crisis Communications: Mapping Risk Reduction Implementation Pathways underscores the importance of nuclear risk reduction and the growing need for modern crisis communications and outlines two scalable pathways to integrate a crisis communications system like CATALINK.

CATALINK, crisis communications, nuclear risk reduction, P5

January 23, 2023

Nuclear Risk Reduction: In Search of A Common Denominator

Nuclear Risk Reduction: In Search of A Common Denominator

As global nuclear dangers rise, risk reduction efforts through effective crisis communications are more important than ever. Yet differences in constituencies, priorities, and strategic cultures of nuclear weapons states generate disagreement as to which measures genuinely reduce risk.

CATALINK, cold war, crisis communications, nuclear risk reduction

December 1, 2022

IST at the 2022 NPT Review Conference

IST at the 2022 NPT Review Conference

During the long-delayed Review Conference on the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT RevCon) in New York this past month, the Institute for Security and Technology (IST) contributed to international efforts to reduce the risk of nuclear conflict.

CATALINK, NPT, nuclear crisis communications, nuclear risk reduction

August 31, 2022

The German Federal Foreign Office Commits Support to the Institute for Security and Technology’s CATALINK Initiative

The German Federal Foreign Office Commits Support to the Institute for Security and Technology’s CATALINK Initiative

The German Federal Foreign Office has generously provided a new grant in support for the Institute for Security and Technology’s CATALINK initiative. This funding will allow the organization to expand its work designing solutions to enhance the security of the global commons.

announcements, CATALINK, crisis communications

July 29, 2022

Atlas of Crisis Communications: Nuclear States

Atlas of Crisis Communications: Nuclear States

Leah Walker and Andrew Facini present an atlas of hotlines between states with nuclear weapons, part of IST’s work efforts to reinvigorate broader nuclear crisis control through research and development aimed at identifying and solving practical nuclear risk reduction gaps.

atlas, CATALINK, crisis communications, hotline, Innovation and Catastrophic Risk, nuclear risk reduction

July 18, 2022

The CATALINK Brief

The CATALINK Brief

Learn more about the CATALINK initiative, which combines radical simplicity, open source design, formal methods for NC3, and international collaboration and outreach.

CATALINK, hotlines, Innovation and Catastrophic Risk, nuclear

August 1, 2021

Zoom Won’t Stop A Nuclear War

In the News, Op-ed

Zoom Won’t Stop A Nuclear War

In an article for Foreign Policy, Sahil Shah and Leah Walker make the case that although the red telephone is gone, a new generation of nuclear hotlines is sorely needed to manage international crises.

CATALINK, crisis communications, India, Innovation and Catastrophic Risk, nuclear hotlines, nuclear war, nuclear weapons, Pakistan, Soviet Union

April 19, 2021

Back Story with Dana Lewis: Nuclear Hotlines

In the News, Podcast

Back Story with Dana Lewis: Nuclear Hotlines

Philip Reiner joined the podcast Back Story with Dana Lewis to discuss a proposal for a nuclear hotline for nations with nuclear weapons.

CATALINK, crisis communications, hotline, Innovation and Catastrophic Risk, nuclear, nuclear weapons, Soviet Union

March 3, 2021

Hotline Between Two Koreas: Status, Limitations and Future Tasks

Hotline Between Two Koreas: Status, Limitations and Future Tasks

In this paper, Moon Chung-in and Boo Seung-Chan provide historical context on the hotlines linking South and North Korea and point to the lessons that can be learned from the decades-long effort.

CATALINK, communication, communication link, crisis, crisis management, escalation, history, hotlines, Innovation and Catastrophic Risk, NC3, nuclear, nuclear security, nuclear weapon, nuclear weapon states, nuclear weapons, nuclear-use, secure communications

December 17, 2020