Nuclear Proliferation Concerns Grow as US-Russia Treaty Expires

The article discusses the growing consideration among countries to develop nuclear weapons as a means of ensuring their safety in a world where might makes right. Nordic defence strategists, as well as America's allies such as Poland, Japan, and South Korea, are reevaluating their stance on nuclear arms. The article suggests that the proliferation of nuclear weapons poses new risks and challenges the international community to think critically about how to address these emerging threats.

The US-Russia New START treaty, which capped the number of nuclear warheads and delivery vehicles, has expired, marking the end of decades of nuclear arms control cooperation. The treaty, signed in 2010 and extended in 2021, limited the number of deployed strategic warheads to 1,550 and delivery vehicles to 700. The expiration comes amid strained US-Russia relations following the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Experts warn of a potential new arms race, with the absence of any agreement making the world a more dangerous place. Vladimir Putin has proposed an informal 12-month rollover, but Donald Trump has not agreed. Some believe a new trilateral treaty including China is needed, but others warn that this is wishful thinking.

The expiration of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New Start) between the US and Russia has sparked fears of an arms race and emboldened North Korea, potentially weakening international pressure to denuclearize. Analysts warn that this could lead to a domino effect regionally, with South Korea and Japan facing increasing pressure to bolster their defense capabilities. The treaty, which had been in place for 15 years, had set limits on deployed strategic nuclear warheads and delivery systems, and its lapse risks normalizing nuclear expansion.