Debak Das

🚨 My article on Nuclear Delivery Vehicles is out at Security Studies! (Open Access) It explains: - Why does the Non-Proliferation Regime & NPT allow nuclear delivery vehicles to spread? - How did India acquire its nuclear delivery technology? Read here: tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.10…

A few quick (and non-exhaustive) thoughts on the implications of Khamenei's death and where things potentially go from here. 1. Who will govern Iran in his absence? The constitution calls for a three person council (President, head of the Judiciary, and a cleric from the Guardian Council). It's unclear if the President and head of the Judiciary are alive. The head of Iran's Defense Council was reportedly killed, as was the Defense Minister and head of the IRGC. So too was Khamenei's son, sometimes rumored as a potential replacement. This is not just an interesting process question or one that matters for the long-term. Iran is engaged in a fight for its survival today. It has immediate decisions to make. 2. How will this early U.S. and Israeli success in eliminating Khamenei and Iran's top leadership influence their strategy? Will Trump be tempted to declare victory sooner rather than later? Or will he target their replacements should they not offer immediate capitulation on U.S. terms? The reaction of the Iranian people (do they take to the streets, or stay at home?) and the regime's response to any protests will likely also shape U.S./Israeli decisionmaking. 3. What will this mean for the nuclear issue? Khamenei may have been the only person standing between Iran and a bomb. A future leader (or leaders) might make totally different choices.

I'm looking forward to speaking at the Colorado Foothills World Affairs Council tomorrow on this new reality of a world without arms control treaties and how that might affect the future of nuclear proliferation. If you're in the Denver area, do come by! #Nuclear #ArmsControl

On Feb 5, the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty will end, marking the first time since the Cold War that the US and Russia would have no legally binding limits on their nuclear arsenals. Learn more from Korbel's @DebakD in @IndiasWorld_mag:

On Feb 5th, for the first time in 54 years, there won't be an arms control treaty between the U.S. & Russia to limit their nuclear weapons. It was pleasure to discuss the impeding expiration of the New START Treaty with @IndiasWorld_mag & @Irtikay youtube.com/watch?v=t5YB35…

⏰One more week! Applications for the @StimsonCenter South Asia Program’s Junior Fellowship close Jan 31. Recent or soon-to-be BA/MA grads interested in South Asia & security—don’t miss out 👇stimson.applicantpro.com/jobs/3935880-9…

Is the Nuclear Arms Race Back? India's World is joined by @DebakD, Assistant Professor in Peace and Security at the Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs at the University of Denver. Watch the full video here youtu.be/t5YB35H3dmo?si… #NewSTART​ #NuclearArmsRace​ #ArmsControl​ #USRussia​ #StrategicStability​ #NonProliferation​ #ChinaNuclear​ #GlobalSecurity​ #Geopolitics​ #IndiasWorld​ #InternationalSecurity

@clary_co @splalwani @Georgetown_UP @StimsonCenter Congratulations!!

Forthcoming, co-edited with @splalwani, at @Georgetown_UP. Thanks to generous support from @StimsonCenter and the Smith Richardson Foundation.

Dr. @DebakD shares nuanced perspectives on the expiration of New START, as he answers my questions for @IndiasWorld_mag. A pleasure indeed. youtube.com/watch?v=t5YB35…

Research from Korbel’s @DebakD expands how we think about today’s more complex security challenges.

🚨🚨 Our 2025 Impact Report is out.🚨🚨 In a year of profound geopolitical disruption, CSDR advanced rigorous, policy-relevant research to support informed decision-making in India and among like-minded partners. Gratitude to all our partners, stakeholders, and experts in India and around the world, for engaging with us. 🔗tinyurl.com/385s77bs @HappymonJacob @LtGenHooda @rakeshnms @Harpoonleader @MohanCRaja @rivagdas @ashokkkantha @Ajaybis @Harpoonleader @shivsahai @jabinjacobt @Kim_HDarragh @DebakD @dperi84 @BashirAliAbbas @AmenNaithani @HelyD25 @ankit @Tishya_Khillare @SidharthRaimed1 @Ankit__T @shashank_zip @Gaurav_SNI @d_makkat @ZWattal @TorunikaR @auro508 @akanksha_b10

Very pleased to see that my article "Explaining the Proliferation of Nuclear Delivery Vehicles" was the most read piece on Security Studies for 2025. Check out the article here @SecStudies_Jrnl: tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.10…

In the list: Korbel's @repstein_du & @DebakD explain that without credible U.S. security guarantees, nuclear proliferation is likely to increase rapidly across Europe and Asia. Link to article: foreignpolicy.com/2025/03/14/tru…

The global nuclear security landscape has gone through dramatic changes in the past decade. Join @DebakD, @rohan_mukh, @Lauren_Sukin, @NicoleGrajewski, J. Luis Rodriguez, and Jacklyn Majnemer to discuss what's next. November 6, 12:30pm EST, hybrid. RSVP: carnegieendowment.org/events/2025/10…

So thrilled to be a Public Impact Fellow at the @UofDenver this academic year!

@DebakD in @defense_news: “So far, there has been no public discussion about the conventional deep strike capability against Chinese strategic infrastructure,”... “The problem with adopting such a doctrine is that China could do the same against India.” defensenews.com/global/asia-pa…

Addressing Moral Exhaustion in Nuclear Policy Against the backdrop of intensifying geopolitical complexities and strategic alliances, competition is growing to deepen nuclear insecurities and resurging militarisation. Based on this imperative, The Geostrata, in partnership with Carnegie Council (@carnegiecouncil) for Ethics in International Affairs, inspired by the Global Ethics Day, is delighted to host a panel uncovering the role of ethics in nuclear policy and decision-making. In the panel, we host Dr Manpreet Sethi (@manpreetsethi01), Distinguished Fellow, Centre for Air Power Studies (@CAPS_INDIA); Dr @reshmikazi, Professor, Department of Political Science, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi; Dr Debak Das (@DebakD), Assistant Professor in Peace and Security, Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs, University of Denver to understand the revival of arms race, rising nuclear posturing, and the declining understanding on deterrence.

@JosephTorigian @CFR_org Congratulations, Joseph!

A little personal news: I'm delighted to start as a senior fellow at @CFR_org, a real homecoming since my first job out of undergrad was working as a research associate there for Adam Segal. cfr.org/news-releases/…

Well-deserved “genius award” awarded by @macfound to @seb6philippe for his work on exposing past harms and potential future risks from building, testing, and storing launch-ready nuclear weapons. macfound.org/fellows/class-… Congratulations!🥇

@AliciaRrChen @perryworldhouse @ForeignAffairs Congratulations, Alicia!

Big thanks to @perryworldhouse and @ForeignAffairs for this honor! I'm excited to share my research on how China is (and isn't!) using aid for influence in international organizations with a broader audience.

🚨 Where is nuclear competition in South Asia and the Indo-Pacific today? What impact does US-China competition have on nuclear proliferation in Southern Asia? I answer these questions in my new Texas National Security Review piece (@TXNatSecReview): tnsr.org/wp-content/upl…