Hans M. Kristensen

Hans Kristensen

@nukestrat.bsky.social

17K followers 280 following 1.3K posts

Director, Nuclear Information Project, Federation of American Scientists. Tracking nuclear arsenals, co-author of Nuclear Notebook, SIPRI Yearbook. Opinions my own.
Website: https://fas.org/initiative/nuclear-information-project/ .. more

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Hans Møller Kristensen is director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists. He writes about nuclear weapons policy there; he is coauthor of the Nuclear Notebook column in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, and the World Nuclear Forces appendix in Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's annual SIPRI Yearbook. .. more

Political science 75%

Engineering 9%

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Hans Kristensen @nukestrat.bsky.social · 15d

Our latest Nuclear Notebook is public: The changing nuclear landscape in Europe. It provides our overview of the nuclear situation, with focus on non-strategic nukes. All the players are increasing their nuclear postures. Check details here: www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10....

Hans Kristensen @nukestrat.bsky.social · 2d

The Trump regime is ramping up its threat to get Greenland. And the Republicans apparently are fine with this disgraceful behavior of the White House.

Hans Kristensen @nukestrat.bsky.social · 2d

Scaled-back Pentagon report on China. Nuke stockpile increase slowed, with 2024 inventory remaining in low-600s. 100+ ICBMs loaded in new silos (no “peer” yet), 50 more DF-26 (anti-ship?), hardly anything on Navy/AF nuke programs. media.defense.gov/2025/Dec/23/...

Hans Kristensen @nukestrat.bsky.social · 2d

It used to be that Greenland security was about the Soviet Union. But these days the threat is the Trump regime. The Danish government even has to summon US ambassador. Putin and Xi probably can’t believe their luck there’s such a crook in the White House. www.cnbc.com/2025/12/22/d...

Denmark to summon U.S. ambassador as Trump's Greenland special envoy appointment stirs tensions

Denmark pushes back against Trump's appointment of Jeff Landry as U.S. Special Envoy to Greenland.

www.cnbc.com

Hans Kristensen @nukestrat.bsky.social · 2d

4/4 - Let’s see the plan: cost, shipyards, vulnerability, operational and diplomatic effects. The way we have seen the Trump regime operate, I doubt any critical analysis made it far up the ranks.

Hans Kristensen @nukestrat.bsky.social · 2d

3/n - Nuclear-powered warships with nuclear weapons onboard will likely reduce access to foreign ports and turn “good will” port visits into diplomatic irritants. This is a hard-learned lesson of the Cold War. fas.org/publication/...

Hans Kristensen @nukestrat.bsky.social · 2d

2/n - The US Navy used to operate a small number of nuclear-powered cruisers, but they were retired and replacements instead built with conventional propulsion because the nuclear ships were too expensive and alleged nuclear benefits not worth the extra cost.

Hans Kristensen @nukestrat.bsky.social · 2d

1/n - Strongman Trump has a new me-plan: A so-called “Golden Fleet” headed by nuclear-powered battleships. Yuuuge, “best-looking,” and named after him.

A normal Congress adhering to its constitutional role of checking the executive branch would have lots of questions.

Hans Kristensen @nukestrat.bsky.social · 4d

Trump lies about everything, also the reason for his military distraction show against Venezuela. Here is the background: www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...

Trump says Venezuela stole U.S. oil, land and assets. Here’s the history.

The government of the oil-rich nation took control of its petroleum industry in 1976, nationalizing hundreds of private businesses and foreign-owned assets.

www.washingtonpost.com

Hans Kristensen @nukestrat.bsky.social · 6d

Trump, who has never lifted a finger for the arts, has added his name to the Kennedy Center. This comes weeks after he added his name to the Institute of Peace, as he masses military off Venezuela.

Soon we’ll probably get the Trump Constitution of the United States.

Hans Kristensen @nukestrat.bsky.social · 8d

Rushing nuclear power plant construction with an industry hunting government subsidies and the Trump regime’s disdain for rules and accountability, what could possibly go wrong?

Geoff Brumfiel @gbrumfiel.bsky.social · 9d

NEW: Trump's new Reactor Pilot Program is rushing to build at least 3 experimental reactor designs by July 4, 2026.

Here's a deep look at the program and why it's raising safety concerns.

For the nuke nerds, I'll also highlight what's new in this 🧵

www.npr.org/2025/12/17/n...

Trump's rush to build nuclear reactors across the U.S. raises safety worries

A new program at the Department of Energy is pushing the development of nearly a dozen new reactor designs at breakneck speed.

www.npr.org

Reposted by Matthew Bunn, Hans M. Kristensen

Geoff Brumfiel @gbrumfiel.bsky.social · 9d

Trump's rush to build nuclear reactors across the U.S. raises safety worries

A new program at the Department of Energy is pushing the development of nearly a dozen new reactor designs at breakneck speed.

www.npr.org

Hans Kristensen @nukestrat.bsky.social · 9d

Production of life-extended 455-kt W88 Alt370 warhead ends, following completion of B61-12 bomb. Focus is now B61-13, W80-4, SLCM-N, W87-1, W93. www.energy.gov/nnsa/article... Moreover, early concept works for a nuke earth-penetrator and the next-gen reentry vehicle are now underway.

Hans Kristensen @nukestrat.bsky.social · 9d

The Trump regime goes berserk and expands travel ban to 39 countries. Straight out of a white supremacist authoritarian playbook, the ban hypes a smaller number of crimes as excuse to harass overwhelmingly people of color. www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...

Disgraceful and un-American!

Trump expands travel ban to 39 countries after shooting of Guard members

The administration added 20 countries to the 19 whose citizens already faced full or partial restrictions on entering the United States.

www.washingtonpost.com

Hans Kristensen @nukestrat.bsky.social · 10d

Great work from PRC Prague and SWP Berlin on Russian and NATO nuclear signaling and reactions in the context of the Russian war on Ukraine. www.prcprague.cz/news/2025/12...

For infrastructure and operational developments, see also our recent Nuclear Notebook: x.com/nukestrat/st...

Peace Research Center Prague - Charles University Center of Excellence

This working paper by SWP and PRCP chronologically traces nuclear signaling in Russia’s war against Ukraine from autumn 2021 to January 2025, coding 452 Russian and Western public statements. Re...

www.prcprague.cz

Hans Kristensen @nukestrat.bsky.social · 10d

The Trump regime, a friend of money and dirty industry but not the environment, delays protection of endangered Monarch butterfly. apnews.com/article/mona...

Trump administration delays decision on federal protections for monarch butterflies

The Trump administration has delayed a decision on whether to extend federal protections to monarch butterflies indefinitely. The U.S.

apnews.com

Hans Kristensen @nukestrat.bsky.social · 12d

Very sad to hear that Bill Burr at @NSArchive has passed away. Over the years his work of documenting nuclear history with targeted and relentless FOIA requests created The Nuclear Vault with invaluable collection of declassified documents and analysis. nsarchive.gwu.edu/project/nucl...

Hans Kristensen @nukestrat.bsky.social · 12d

NYT investigation found Securities and Exchange Commission eased up on more than 60 percent of ongoing crypto cases when Trump took office. Cancelling investigations, easing penalties on crypto firms, many with direct ties to Trump. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/14/u...

Nothing to see here…

Hans Kristensen @nukestrat.bsky.social · 14d

Great and timely piece by @andrewfacini.com and Mallory Stewart about the risk of Trump’s Golden Dome project triggering more strategic buildup. warontherocks.com/2025/12/we-m...

We Might Regret Golden Dome's Greatest Ambition

What happens when the United States tries to build a missile shield so ambitious that Russia and China start dreaming up weapons that no defense can stop?

warontherocks.com

Hans Kristensen @nukestrat.bsky.social · 14d

Under the poor leadership of the Trump regime’s health boss RFK Jr, once-fringe views that vaccines hurt children have become the dominant view on the US Center for Disease Control advisory panel. The dangerous view is now driving federal health policy. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

Opinion | What RFK Jr.’s vaccine advisers revealed about their views

Understanding the mindset of vaccine skeptics helps to unveil what’s coming.

www.washingtonpost.com

Hans Kristensen @nukestrat.bsky.social · 14d

Pacific bomber operations last couple of days:

• 11 Dec: 2 B-52s (at least one (60-0032) nuclear-capable) with Japan (no flight map released): x.com/jointstaffpa...

• 9 Dec: 2 Tu-95 (nuclear-capable) and 2 H-6K around Japan (flight map released). x.com/nukestrat/st...

Hans Kristensen @nukestrat.bsky.social · 15d

The last remaining nuclear arms limitation treaty expires in less than two months. Russia and US have been unwilling to make a replacement treaty. Putin has said he would keep limit for one year and Trump has said that’s a good idea. We’re waiting…
www.reuters.com/world/china/...

Hans Kristensen @nukestrat.bsky.social · 15d

If only we knew how to prevent this. Oh wait…

Hans Kristensen @nukestrat.bsky.social · 15d

The full intelligence report is available here: www.fe-ddis.dk/globalassets...

www.fe-ddis.dk

Reposted by Kori Schake, Bessma Momani

Hans Kristensen @nukestrat.bsky.social · 15d

The United States is for the first time mentioned as part of the threat picture in the latest Danish Defense intelligence assessment: The US now uses "its economic and technological strength as a means of power, including towards allies and partners." www.dr.dk/nyheder/udla...

USA beskrives på ny måde i trusselsvurdering: 'Noget af det mest følsomme og opsigtsvækkende'

USA er for første gang i årlig FE-rapport blevet nævnt som en negativ del af trusselsbilledet mod Danmark.

www.dr.dk

Hans Kristensen @nukestrat.bsky.social · 15d

The Trump regime’s so-called national security strategy (reads more like a political manifesto) is sobering reading, pulling US back, undermining achievements/influence earned over a century, and work to pull Austria, Hungary, Italy, Poland away from EU. www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/...

Hans Kristensen @nukestrat.bsky.social · 15d

Your can find the free article in two version:

• PDF-version on Taylor & Francis
www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10....

• Web-version on @bulletin
thebulletin.org/premium/2025...

Nuclear Notebook: The changing nuclear landscape in Europe

This issue's column reviews the status of nuclear weapons and nuclear operations in Europe.

thebulletin.org

Hans Kristensen @nukestrat.bsky.social · 16d

Another example of a headline misrepresenting what the article says. This one from BBC, an otherwise trustworthy source. The Chinese/Russian aircraft DID NOT violate South Korean airspace. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Hey @BBC, you should fix this. People remember headlines, not articles.