Archive

crisis communications

Crossed Wires and Rising Escalations: IST Hosts Workshop on Reinvigorating Nuclear Crisis Communications

Crossed Wires and Rising Escalations: IST Hosts Workshop on Reinvigorating Nuclear Crisis Communications

On February 18, 2026, the Institute for Security and Technology’s Nuclear Policy team convened for a workshop and scenario-based exercise titled “Reinvigorating Nuclear Crisis Communications in an Era of Emerging Technologies” with leading diplomats, policy experts, and technologists in Geneva, Switzerland.

arms control, crisis communications, escalation, mesh networks, New START, nuclear, risk reduction

March 9, 2026

Reinvigorating Crisis Communications in an Era of Emerging Technologies

February 18, 2026 12:00 am

Reinvigorating Crisis Communications in an Era of Emerging Technologies

In February 2026, IST’s CATALINK Initiative hosted a workshop in Geneva to connect with stakeholders on reinvigorating nuclear crisis communications in a new era of emerging technologies.

AI, Broker, crisis communications, encryption, hotlines, Puck

February 19, 2026

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

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

Strengthening Nuclear Crisis Communications: Steps to Implement Mesh Networks to Enhance Resilience & Security

Strengthening Nuclear Crisis Communications: Steps to Implement Mesh Networks to Enhance Resilience & Security

To advance work on secure crisis communications, IST convened a diverse group of experts for a technical workshop to explore potential avenues for improving the resilience of nuclear crisis communications networks, including IST’s CATALINK Initiative. In this report, IST’s Christian Steins shares critical takeaways from their discussion.

crisis communications, mesh network, nuclear weapon state, resilience, ROCCS

May 22, 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

Improving Nuclear Hotlines: Experts Speak

October 30, 2024 10:00 am

Improving Nuclear Hotlines: Experts Speak

On Thursday, July 18, IST hosted a virtual conversation with the authors of a series of publications on improving nuclear hotlines in country-specific contexts.

crisis communications, hotline, India, nuclear, nuclear weapons, Pakistan, Russia, UK

July 18, 2024

To Trinity Test Site: Reconciling with the Past, Taking Action for the Future

To Trinity Test Site: Reconciling with the Past, Taking Action for the Future

No amount of reading or watching documentaries really prepares one for the real experience—a walk through history into the birthplace of the single most deadliest weapon of mass destruction. IST's Sylvia Mishra was given the rare opportunity to visit the Trinity Site.

atomic bomb, cold war, crisis communications, nuclear risk reduction

July 16, 2023

The Nuclear Risk Reduction Approach: A Useful Path Forward for Crisis Mitigation

The Nuclear Risk Reduction Approach: A Useful Path Forward for Crisis Mitigation

In an article for Asia-Pacific Leadership Network, IST’s Sylvia Mishra highlights the importance of advancing the nuclear risk reduction approach and explains why IST’s CATALINK Initiative should be incorporated as a component of such an approach.

crisis communications, NC3, nuclear, nuclear risk reduction, Russo-Ukraine War

January 27, 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

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 Role of Crisis Communications in the Russo-Ukrainian War

The Role of Crisis Communications in the Russo-Ukrainian War

The Russo-Ukrainian War has not been tempered nor solved by the existence of crisis communications between nuclear weapon states. However, the existence of the senior and tactical level deconfliction lines may continue to play a role in limiting escalatory action between these adversaries.

crisis communications, hotlines, NC3, Russo-Ukraine War

May 18, 2022

In the News, Podcast

Strategic Stability: Sahil Shah on Press the Button

Sahil Shah joined Ploughshare Fund’s flagship podcast Press the Button to discuss strategic stability, transatlantic relations, and the need for reliable communications links in all nuclear contexts.

crisis communications, JCPOA, nuclear command, risk reduction

October 11, 2021