Global Security Threats and Nuclear Armament
The perception of global security threats has intensified over the past five years, driven by the rise of irredentism and neo-imperialism among nuclear-armed nations such as the United States, Russia, China, Israel, and Pakistan.
Expiration of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START)
- The New START, signed in 2010 between the US and Russia, expired on February 4, leading to concerns about the lack of a new nuclear-arms control agreement.
- The absence of such an agreement could result in increased deployment of nuclear warheads by the US and Russia.
- The treaty's expiration raises questions about the effectiveness of bilateral treaties in deterring global nuclear proliferation.
Nuclear-Armed States and Stockpiles
- The US and Russia together hold 90% of the world's nuclear weapons.
- As of January 2025, there are nine nuclear-armed states with a total of 12,241 warheads.
- 9,614 warheads are in military stockpiles ready for potential use.
- China is noted for its rapidly growing nuclear arsenal, with 600 warheads and plans for 350 intercontinental ballistic missile silos.
- India has surpassed Pakistan in the number of warheads, holding 180 compared to Pakistan's 170.
Increasing Nuclear Tensions
- Nuclear arms races are escalating in regions like West Asia, East Europe, and East Asia due to rising security threat perceptions and nationalism.
- Nuclear weapons, while not preventing conflict, pose the risk of escalation, particularly under nationalist leaders like Trump, Putin, and Xi Jinping.
- A multilateral treaty involving all nuclear-armed nations is critical for global peace and security.
Role of International Treaties
- The Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) obligates 191 states to negotiate nuclear disarmament, though neither India nor Pakistan has signed it.
- The Treaty of Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, adopted in 2017, prohibits activities related to nuclear weapons; however, none of the nine nuclear-armed states have signed it.
- The expiry of New START presents an opportunity for renewed international efforts towards nuclear disarmament.
