The recent announcement by Russian President Vladimir Putin that Moscow is suspending its participation in the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) could have far-reaching

consequences. The treaty is the last remaining arms control agreement between the United States and Russia, and its collapse would remove limits on nuclear forces for the first time since the 1970s.

The risk of a nuclear launch, intentional or otherwise, would rise, and the world would become far more dangerous and unstable without nuclear arms control. This sentiment was echoed by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who has stated that “a world without nuclear arms control is a far more dangerous and unstable one.”

If China were to provide military assistance to Russia, it would mark a significant shift in Chinese foreign policy and raise tensions between China and the United States. It would also return the world to the kind of conflicts and proxy wars seen during the Cold War.

The Federation of American Scientists has warned that without arms control, the United States and Russia could double the size of their nuclear arsenals. This increase would be destabilizing and dangerous, especially given the current full-scale war in Europe and Russia’s struggle under unprecedented sanctions.

The situation in Ukraine continues to evolve, and the possibility of China arming the Russian military only adds to the complexity of the situation. As the world watches with bated breath, it is clear that the stakes are high and that the actions of each party involved will have significant consequences for the global community.

The collapse of the New START treaty would have an impact not only on U.S.-Russian relations but on global security as a whole. It is essential that world leaders work together to find a solution that preserves nuclear arms control and prevents the world from becoming more dangerous and unstable. Photo by MyName (Bradmoscu (talk)), Wikimedia commons.