The world is at a critical juncture as the expiration of the US-Russia nuclear pact marks a "grave moment" for global peace, warns the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres. This pivotal moment, which has triggered fears of a global arms race, comes at an especially perilous time, with the risk of nuclear weapon use at its highest in decades. The New Start agreement, which limited each side's nuclear arsenal to 1,550 deployed strategic warheads, has ended, leaving a power vacuum that could threaten the 1970 nuclear nonproliferation treaty (NPT).
The US and Russia, controlling over 80% of the world's nuclear warheads, are now faced with a critical decision. Guterres urges them to "return to the negotiating table without delay and to agree upon a successor framework." However, the expiration of the pact has also sparked a debate about the role of the Trump administration, which some argue was more interested in ideology than in negotiating a complex agreement. The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has called for a new agreement that includes China, recognizing the need for a global approach to arms control in the 21st century.
The world is watching as the US and Russia navigate this delicate situation, with the potential for a new arms race looming large. The Pope has urged both sides to "do everything possible" to avoid this outcome, while also calling for a "concrete and effective" follow-up to the expired treaty. The future of global peace and security hangs in the balance, and the world is waiting to see how the US and Russia will respond to this "grave moment" in international relations.
