The world is on the brink of a new arms race as the last nuclear pact between the US and Russia is set to expire, raising concerns about the potential for unconstrained nuclear proliferation. The New START Treaty, which has been in place for over a half-century, is set to expire on Thursday, removing any caps on the two largest atomic arsenals. This could lead to a dangerous three-way arms race involving the US, Russia, and China, which is also increasing its smaller but growing nuclear arsenal. The termination of the treaty could encourage a bigger deployment and increase the risk of nuclear conflict.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared his readiness to stick to the treaty's limits for another year if Washington follows suit, but President Donald Trump has been noncommittal about extending it. Trump has indicated he would like to keep limits on nuclear weapons and involve China in arms control talks, but Beijing has balked at any restrictions on its nuclear arsenal. The Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has warned that the world would be 'more dangerous' without limits on US and Russian nuclear stockpiles.
Arms control advocates have long voiced concern about the expiration of New START, warning it could lead to a new Russia-US arms race and foment global instability. Pope Leo XIV has called for the treaty 'not to be abandoned without seeking to ensure its concrete and effective continuation.' Failure to agree on keeping the pact's limits will likely encourage a bigger deployment, said Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association.
Trump's proposed 'Golden Dome' missile defense system has also worried Russia and China, as it could lead to an arms race in offensive and defensive strategic weapons. Trump's statement about US intentions to resume nuclear tests has also troubled the Kremlin, which could prompt Russia to respond in kind and tempt others, including China and India, to follow suit. The world is heading toward accelerated strategic competition, with more spending and increasingly unstable relations involving the US, Russia, and China on nuclear matters. This marks a potential turning point into a much more dangerous period of global nuclear competition.
