A chilling milestone hits global security: the New START treaty expires Thursday, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres deems it a ‘grave moment’ for peace. For the first time in over 50 years, no legal shackles bind the strategic nuclear forces of America and Russia, possessors of nearly all planetary warheads.
This pact, active since 2011, capped deployed nukes and carriers, building on decades of controls that stabilized rivalries, curbed missteps, and culled arsenals by thousands. Guterres lauds its protective legacy, especially for the publics it shielded. Yet, its fadeout coincides with peak nuclear-use risks in modern memory.
Optimism flickers, though. Presidential nods to halting arms races signal potential. Guterres implores swift bilateral talks for a modern successor: verifiable ceilings, lowered hazards, fortified safeguards. Post-INF withdrawal, this void screams for innovation in arms restraint.
The world holds its breath, eyeing Moscow and Washington for deeds matching declarations. History proves treaties tame the nuclear beast; in today’s tinderbox—riven by wars and rivalries—reweaving that safety net isn’t optional. It’s survival.