Nicholas Adamopoulos

Associate Director and Associate Fellow, Project on Nuclear Issues
Nicholas Adamopoulos

Niko is an associate director and associate fellow with the Project on Nuclear Issues (PONI) at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), where he manages the CSIS PONI Nuclear Scholars initiative. His research focuses on the future of arms control, disinformation and crisis escalation, and alliance dynamics. He holds a master's degree in international affairs from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID) and a bachelor's degree with honors in political science from Colgate University.

Programs & Projects

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What Allies Want: European Priorities in a Contested Security Environment

While the United States remains committed to NATO, it its placing growing pressure on its allies to shoulder more of the burden for European defense. As allies shoulder a growing conventional burden, they want to ensure US extended deterrence commitments remain.

Report by Nicholas Adamopoulos — May 12, 2025

We Need More Off-Ramps for Nuclear Crises

States should develop off-ramps—such as crisis communications, third-party mediation, and narrative manipulation—now and in advance of crises in order to reduce the risk of nuclear use.

Commentary by Heather Williams and Nicholas Adamopoulos — May 12, 2025

Audio Briefs

We Need More Off-Ramps for Nuclear Crises

An audio version of “⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠We Need More Off-Ramps for Nuclear Crises⁠⁠⁠⁠,” a new commentary by CSIS's Heather Williams and Nicholas Adamopoulos. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.

Podcast Episode by Heather Williams and Nicholas Adamopoulos — May 12, 2025

Audio Briefs

Game On: Opportunities for Euro-Atlantic Strategic Stability and Arms Control

Europe is likely to remain a theater of instability despite pressure for a peace settlement in Ukraine. As the United States shifts toward the Indo-Pacific and Russia continues to pursue its territorial ambitions, what might arms control look like after the war in Ukraine?

Report by Heather Williams, Nicholas Adamopoulos, Lachlan MacKenzie, and Catherine Murphy — April 21, 2025

PONI 2024 Summer Conference

PONI will host its 2024 Summer Conference on July 17-18 at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The conference will explore topics related to nuclear deterrence.

Event — July 17, 2024

The Uncertain Future of U.S.-Russia Arms Control

Time is running out for the United States and Russia to revive cooperation on arms control before the expiration of New START in 2026. Despite efforts from the Biden administration to kickstart progress, Russia remains an unwilling partner for the foreseeable future.

Critical Questions by Nicholas Adamopoulos — February 14, 2024

2023 Fall Conference

The Project on Nuclear Issues (PONI) will host its 2023 Fall Conference on December 5 at CSIS. The conference will explore the impact of emerging technologies on nuclear security. A call for presentation proposals and registration for conference attendees are forthcoming.

Event — December 5, 2023

Conventional-Nuclear Integration to Strengthen Deterrence

The evolving geopolitical landscape demands strategies for disincentivizing adversarial nuclear use to advance regional goals. In response, the United States and its allies are considering strategies to integrate conventional and nuclear forces and bolster deterrence.

Commentary by Doreen Horschig and Nicholas Adamopoulos — October 4, 2023

Reactions from the Next Generation

As a follow-on to "The Fragile Balance of Terror," the CSIS Project on Nuclear Issues invited eight early- and mid-career experts to offer reflections on the volume. These rising voices outline a landscape of uncertainty that they will confront throughout their careers.

Report by Heather Williams, Jamie Kwong, Nicholas Adamopoulos, Suzanne Claeys, Joseph Rodgers, Doreen Horschig, Lachlan MacKenzie, Melissa Chan, and Jessica Link — June 28, 2023