The 2026 Nuclear Threat Initiative Nuclear Security Index finds deteriorating nuclear security conditions in the United States and Russia, rising stocks of weapons-usable materials in several countries, and uneven global adoption of security practices.
NTI finds a decline in nuclear security leadership in the U.S. and Russia, driven by reduced international cooperation and weakened oversight.
Plutonium and highly enriched uranium (HEU) stocks are rising in several countries, increasing the amount of weapons-usable material despite a lower global HEU total.
Twelve countries are identified as advancing nuclear security through sustained domestic improvements and international engagement.
Index reports worsening nuclear security conditions in the United States and Russia. NTI says this trend is concerning because those two countries hold most of the world's weapons-usable nuclear materials and have been central to global security efforts.
What drove the decline in each country
Russia: The report points to Russia's suspension of crucial international cooperation and its continued production of weapons-usable materials as the largest contributors to its falling score. NTI identifies those policy choices as primary drivers of Russia's decline in the Index.
United States: The U.S. has also cut back on international cooperation, but NTI attributes the biggest driver of America's reduced score to an erosion of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's independence. The report frames this as a governance and oversight issue that weakens nuclear security performance.
Plutonium: NTI reports growing plutonium stockpiles in multiple countries, including France, India, and Russia. The agency links the increases to spent fuel reprocessing operations that accumulate plutonium and argues those operations create unnecessary security risks.
HEU (highly enriched uranium): NTI finds HEU quantities rising in Belgium, Germany, India, Iran, Pakistan, and Russia. At the same time, the global HEU total is reported to be shrinking, indicating redistribution or localized increases even as the overall amount declines.
Security practices and persistent gaps
NTI notes that most countries with weapons-usable material and nuclear facilities have made little progress in adopting robust nuclear security practices. Common weaknesses include reliance on insufficient personnel-related security measures and inadequate cybersecurity requirements for nuclear sites.
The Index identifies 12 countries that are advancing nuclear security by sustaining domestic improvements, supporting other governments, and increasing engagement with international institutions. Those countries are: Australia, Canada, Finland, Ghana, Hungary, Japan, Jordan, the Netherlands, Senegal, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. NTI frames their actions as practical examples other governments can follow.
NTI's recommendations and implications
NTI recommends an urgent reversal of declining nuclear security conditions in both the U.S. and Russia. For the United States specifically, NTI urges reclaiming a global leadership role on nuclear security. The report implies that renewed cooperation, stronger independent oversight, and tighter controls on reprocessing and material accumulation would reduce global risks.
What this means for policymakers and practitioners
Policymakers: Reaffirming international cooperation and restoring regulatory independence are presented as actionable steps to improve national scores and global security.
Operational managers at nuclear facilities: The Index highlights the need to strengthen personnel security and cybersecurity measures where they remain weak.
International partners: The 12 countries cited offer templates for how sustained domestic work plus outward engagement can raise the bar for nuclear security in other states.
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