The world is watching with trepidation as Russian President Vladimir Putin announces the suspension of the last remaining nuclear treaty between Russia and the United States. The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) limits the strategic nuclear arms arsenals of both countries, and is due to lapse in 2026. Putin’s decision has raised fears of an impending arms race between the two superpowers.
On this episode of Inside Story, presenter Nick Clark speaks to a panel of experts to discuss the implications of Russia’s withdrawal from START. Donald Jensen, Russia Director at the US Institute of Peace and former US diplomat in Moscow, explains why START is so important. He says that it is the only remaining agreement that limits the number of nuclear weapons in both countries, and its expiration will remove the last constraint on the arsenals of the two major nuclear powers.
Rabia Akhtar, Director of the Centre for Security, Strategy and Policy Research at University of Lahore, believes that Putin’s decision could be a sign of growing tensions between Russia and the US. She says that while there is no evidence of an imminent arms race, it is possible that both countries could increase their military spending in order to gain an advantage over each other.
Finally, Dmitry Babich, political commentator for Russian state-owned news agency Rossiya Segodnya, argues that Putin’s decision is a response to US aggression towards Russia. He believes that the US has been pushing Russia into a corner by imposing sanctions and expanding NATO, and that Putin’s move is a way to protect his country from further aggression.
Overall, it is clear that Putin’s decision to suspend START has raised fears of an impending arms race between Russia and the US. While there is no evidence of an imminent arms race, both countries could increase their military spending in order to gain an advantage over each other. It remains to be seen how this situation will play out in the coming years, but one thing is certain: the world will be watching with trepidation.