Mark Melamed
Deputy Vice President, Global Nuclear Policy Program
Advancing Nuclear “Fail-Safe”
Strengthening “fail-safe” procedures to avoid a nuclear blunder
Challenge
The risk of nuclear weapons use—based on false warnings of attack, faulty judgment, or other miscalculation—is growing along with the potential for cyberattacks that could disrupt nuclear weapons command-and-control and early warning systems.
Action
Encourage nuclear-armed states to undertake “fail-safe” reviews of their nuclear weapons and command-and-control systems to assess and strengthen safeguards against cyber and other threats that could contribute to the unauthorized, inadvertent, or accidental use of a nuclear weapon.
Results
The United States is now conducting a congressionally mandated “fail-safe” review. NTI is working with global partners to encourage other nuclear-armed states to undertake their own reviews.
Modern technologies like cyber and artificial intelligence are introducing new risks to nuclear weapons and related systems, underscoring the need and urgency of conducting “fail-safe” reviews. The aim of such reviews should be to identify policies, procedures, and risk-reduction measures that nuclear-armed states could implement unilaterally, or possibly together in some cases, to strengthen safeguards against the unauthorized, inadvertent, or mistaken use of a nuclear weapon, including through false warning of an attack, and increase decision times for leaders.
Since early 2020, NTI Co-Founder and Co-Chair Sam Nunn and Co-Chair and CEO Ernest J. Moniz have championed NTI’s effort to encourage the U.S government to undertake such a review aimed at strengthening nuclear “fail-safe.” With the U.S. review well underway, NTI now seeks to encourage other nuclear-armed states to conduct their own unilateral reviews. NTI has partnered with the European Leadership Network and the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network to lead the effort in their respective regions.
Learn more about nuclear “fail-safe” reviews:
- Factsheet: Failsafe Review: What is it and why is it important?
- Video: “Breaking Down the Cyber-Nuclear Threat”
- Statements and articles:
- Euro-Atlantic Security Leadership Group statement on “Advancing Global Nuclear ‘Fail-Safe’” (February 2023)
- NTI Statement on the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review (October 28, 2022)
- “Biden should do more to prevent the accidental launch of nuclear weapons. Here’s How.” by Sam Nunn and Ernest J. Moniz (November 17, 2021)
2026
NTI Advances Dialogue on U.S.-China Nuclear Risk Reduction
NTI convened a roundtable on April 2 with 25 experts and officials to examine the challenges and opportunities for advancing dialogue between the U.S. and China. The discussion featured Dr. Tianjiao Jiang, a Chinese expert on nuclear and emerging technology policy, who spoke on “Issues and Obstacles for U.S.-China Engagement on Nuclear and AI Dialogue.”
Nuclear Fail-Safe, and Space Security and Stability—Explained
Strengthening nuclear fail-safe measures and applying and adapting principles governing the use of outer space for peaceful purposes are essential to preventing nuclear use and maintaining strategic stability.
2025
NTI Advances Global Nuclear Fail-Safe in Beijing
At a time of rising global tensions and rapid technological change, NTI continues to deepen its international partnerships and promote productive dialogue on nuclear risk reduction efforts.
NTI and Partners Champion Global Nuclear Fail-Safe
Over the past five years, NTI has championed globally a groundbreaking new policy initiative to reduce nuclear risk – the independent review of the safety, security, and reliability of nuclear weapons and related systems in nuclear-armed states.
Global Nuclear Fail-Safe: Meeting Summaries and Related Documents
The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), Euro-Atlantic Security Leadership Group (EASLG), Asia-Pacific Leadership Network (APLN), and European Leadership Network (ELN) have worked since March 2020 to highlight the benefits of independent, internal “fail-safe” reviews in nuclear-armed states.
2023
The Fail-Safe Review
Modern technologies like cyber are introducing new risks to nuclear systems and underscore the need and urgency of conducting a new failsafe review.
2022
NTI Statement on the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review
"The NPR sets the right course by emphasizing dialogue and diplomacy, aiming to reduce the role of nuclear weapons in national security strategy."