Today's food, water, energy, trade, financial, and governance systems are tightly linked and built for efficiency, not resilience. In such systems, even a "limited" nuclear exchange could trigger cascading failures such as soaring food prices, collapsing water and power systems, and economic shocks far beyond any blast zone—overwhelming governments at the very moment they are most needed.
Decisions that countries are considering now could determine whether nuclear energy in the region actually moves forward, at what scale, and whether it is ultimately a problem-solver or a problem-maker. This article organizes the future of nuclear energy in Southeast Asia around four decision points: strategic goals, technology selection, fuel sourcing, and waste management.
The 2026 NTI Nuclear Security Index proposes an agenda for a new era of leadership at a moment when the risk environment leaves no room for complacency.
This paper outlines six practical options that non-nuclear weapon states could pursue to reduce nuclear risks amid heightened geopolitical tensions. The options were developed based on interviews with nuclear policy experts from around the world. They reflect priority areas where government investment could have the most near- to medium-term impact, as well as the tools and channels through which these efforts could be advanced.
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.
The Index documents continent-wide gains across laboratory systems, biosurveillance, biosecurity and biosafety, manufacturing, and emergency response.
Southeast Asia is ripe for nuclear energy, but it will need to work closely with international partners to get a commercial program off the ground.
NTI's Critical Mass Project supports the creative community to tell stories about nuclear risks in film and television.
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