experts
Pranay Vaddi
Fellow, Nuclear Policy Program
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about


Pranay Vaddi is no longer with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Pranay Vaddi was a fellow in the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. His current research is focused on developing future U.S. nuclear posture and arms control proposals, and Congress' role in arms control policy. A lawyer by training, Vaddi brings years of practical experience from his time at the U.S. Department of State, in the Bureau of Arms Control, Verification, and Compliance Office of Strategic Stability and Deterrence Affairs. Vaddi also served in the Bureau of Legislative Affairs.

At the U.S. Department of State, Vaddi served as the interagency New START Treaty Bilateral Consultative Commission (BCC) backstopping policy committee chair, an advisor to the New START Treaty BCC delegation, and worked on the suite of U.S.-Russia arms control and deterrence issues within the office. In addition, Vaddi coordinated working-level interagency policy efforts to support the diplomatic strategy on the INF Treaty and served as a member of expert-level delegations to pressure Russia to return to compliance with the Treaty in the Special Verification Commission (SVC), other bilateral meetings, and participated in consultations with allies and partners. He also aided in preparatory efforts and participated in the 2017 Strategic Stability Talks with Russia. 

A recognized expert on nuclear arms control, Vaddi has testified before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and before the congressional U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. He has also been quoted in numerous publications including the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Foreign Policy, the Guardian, and the Economist. He has also published in Lawfare and the Hill, along with numerous Carnegie publications, including “The End of Arms Control?,” which is focused on the possible expiration of the New START Treaty.

Vaddi previously worked as a congressional advisor in the Bureau of Legislative Affairs, managing the State Department’s relations with Congress on arms control, nonproliferation, political-military, intelligence, cybersecurity, counterterrorism, and defense policy issues. Subsequently, he served as the nominations director and counsel, covering ambassadorial/executive confirmations and congressional oversight issues and document requests.

Vaddi and his wife, Megan, reside in Maryland with two kids and a disobedient pit bull.

 


affiliations
areas of expertise
Foreign PolicyNuclear PolicyRussiaSecurityMilitaryForeign PolicyForeign Policy
education
BA, Political Science, University of Rochester, 2007, BS, Biochemistry, University of Rochester, 2007, JD, University of Pittsburgh School of Law, 2010    
languages
English, Telegu

All work from Pranay Vaddi

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21 Results
event
New Voices: 2023 Conference on Diversity in Nuclear Policy
July 13, 2023

Rising nuclear dangers demand the recruitment of new and diverse voices to the nuclear policy field. This one-day, interactive event for interns, students, and young professionals will provide opportunities for networking, mentorship, and substantive nuclear policy discussions with guest speakers.

  • +7
  • Naoko Aoki, 
  • Frank Aum, 
  • Suzanne DiMaggio, 
  • Nola Haynes, 
  • Bonnie Jenkins, 
  • Nomsa Ndongwe, 
  • Luis Rodriguez, 
  • Terrell Starr, 
  • Pranay Vaddi, 
  • Reja Younis
report
Reimagining Nuclear Arms Control: A Comprehensive Approach

To try to find common ground, this report presents nine detailed practical measures that—implemented individually or as part of a package—would help address each state’s specific security concerns and the shared dangers of arms racing and inadvertent escalation.

· December 16, 2021
In The Media
in the media
When It Comes to China’s Nuclear Weapons, Numbers Aren’t Everything

Nuclear risks between the United States and China manifest differently than those of the past U.S.-Soviet nuclear competition, or that of the United States and Russia today.

· March 13, 2021
In The Media
in the media
Toward a Just U.S. Nuclear Declaratory Policy

Ultimately, if the United States wishes to retain or restore its international leadership in a global nuclear order, its declaratory policy should be one that Americans and others would find relatively acceptable if other states adopted it.

· March 9, 2021
In The Media
in the media
Setting a Course Away From the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile

As the new administration reassesses U.S. nuclear policy, it will be forced to make decisions about the future of the country’s ground-based, nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) arsenal.

· February 16, 2021
event
Nuclear Policy and Posture in the Biden Administration
February 5, 2021

In “Proportionate Deterrence: A Model Nuclear Posture Review,” George Perkovich and Pranay Vaddi provide analysis and recommendations for the Biden Administration. Please join the authors for a conversation about their recommendations with Michèle Flournoy.

Q&A
Extending New START Should Be Just the Beginning

A potential five-year extension of the treaty is welcome news, but there is still more work to be done on reducing nuclear risks, halting arms races with Russia and China, and keeping Americans safe.

· January 25, 2021
report
Proportionate Deterrence: A Model Nuclear Posture Review

Since the 1990s, every U.S. presidential administration has published a Nuclear Posture Review that explains the rationales behind its nuclear strategy, doctrine, and requested forces. The review envisioned and summarized here explicitly elucidates the dilemmas, uncertainties, and tradeoffs that come with current and possible alternative nuclear policies and forces.

· January 21, 2021
In The Media
in the media
How Biden Can Advance Nuclear Arms Control and Stability with Russia and China

President-elect Joe Biden will take office with a series of pending arms control policy decisions to make.

· January 12, 2021
In The Media
in the media
An Integrated Approach to Deterrence Posture

The primary deterrence challenge facing the United States today is preventing aggression and escalation in limited conventional conflicts with a nuclear-armed adversary.

· January 1, 2021