Kremlin Declares Nuclear Deterrence as Sole Barrier to World War
The Kremlin stated on Wednesday that nuclear weapons represent the 'only' safeguard preventing the world from descending into a global conflict, as fears of a renewed multi-country arms race intensify. The last remaining nuclear arms control treaty between Russia and the United States, the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), expired in February, removing restrictions on the world's two largest nuclear powers.
Speaking at a foreign policy forum in Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov asserted that the global security system is 'eroding.' 'In fact, we have nothing left in this world apart from nuclear deterrence. It's the only thing that protects the world from a global war,' Peskov said. He added that as technology advances, new types of non-nuclear weapons may eventually match nuclear weapons in destructive power.
No Progress on Replacing the Expired New START Treaty
There have been no indications so far that either side is moving to renew or replace the accord, despite both parties having agreed to reestablish high-level military talks. Signed in 2010, New START was the last in a series of Cold War-era arms control agreements, limiting Moscow and Washington to 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads each. Before it lapsed, both countries repeatedly accused each other of failing to adhere to the deal.
Putin's Nuclear Rhetoric and US Push for Chinese Inclusion
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly invoked nuclear rhetoric throughout his four-year offensive on Ukraine, triggering accusations of reckless sabre-rattling from Europe and the United States. US President Donald Trump has pressed for a new treaty to include China, whose nuclear arsenal is growing but remains far smaller than those of Russia or the United States. Beijing has publicly rejected the pressure. Moscow insists that if China is brought into a new deal, then Washington's nuclear allies, Britain and France, must also be included.
The expiration of New START marks the first time in decades that no treaty is in force to curtail the deployment of nuclear weapons, raising concerns about a potential new arms race among global powers.
