Risk of nuclear war is rising again and calls grow for a new peace movement

The article reports that the New START treaty expired on 5 February, raising concerns about a renewed US–Russia arms race, and calls for renewed global peace activism to press for limits and new negotiations.

The New START arms‑control treaty expired on 5 February, and the article reports that experts and commentators see a rising risk of nuclear escalation. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has moved its Doomsday Clock closer to midnight, a sign used by analysts to indicate growing global risk. Nuclear weapons have also spread to additional countries, and China’s arsenal is reported to be expanding. The author notes that Russia offered to voluntarily maintain treaty limits but that the United States did not accept that offer; he urges renewed international and grassroots pressure for restraint and new agreements. Key points: - The New START treaty expired on 5 February, leaving the largest remaining US–Russia arms control framework inactive. - The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has moved its Doomsday Clock closer to midnight, and observers say the overall risk environment is higher than in recent decades. - The article reports that Russia proposed voluntary maintenance of treaty limits, which the United States did not accept, and calls for renewed peace activism and for the US to agree to refrain from increasing strategic warheads while negotiations proceed. Summary: The expiration of New START removes a major formal constraint on US and Russian strategic arsenals and is described as increasing the risk of an accelerated arms race. Undetermined at this time.