In a stark statement on global security, Russia has asserted that nuclear weapons are the sole barrier preventing the escalation into a major worldwide conflict. This declaration comes amid growing apprehension about the deterioration of international arms control frameworks.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov highlighted the weakening of global security infrastructure, particularly following the lapse of the New START treaty between Russia and the United States. The treaty, which expired in February, was pivotal in capping the number of deployed nuclear warheads each country could maintain, serving as a cornerstone of arms limitation.
Peskov cautioned that the absence of nuclear deterrence might lead to a heightened risk of extensive conflict. He further suggested that advancements in non-nuclear weaponry could eventually rival the destructive power traditionally associated with nuclear arms.
The disintegration of New START has sparked fears of a potential new arms race among the world’s major powers. Originally signed in 2010, the treaty imposed a ceiling of 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads on both Russia and the United States, representing the last significant bilateral limitation on their nuclear arsenals.
Amid these developments, former US President Donald Trump advocated for a fresh arms control agreement that would also incorporate China, given its expanding nuclear capabilities. However, Beijing has declined to engage in such negotiations. Meanwhile, Moscow has suggested that future agreements should consider the nuclear arsenals of other US allies, such as the United Kingdom and France, to ensure a comprehensive approach to global arms control.