Tue Sep 17 04:29:03 UTC 2024: ## Nuclear Threats Escalate as Arms Control Treaties Crumble
**UNITED NATIONS, Sep 17 2024 (IPS)** – The world is teetering on the brink of a nuclear crisis, with experts and organizations sounding the alarm over the increasing threat of nuclear war. The constant drumbeat of nuclear threats from Russia, Israeli right-wing politicians, and North Korea has raised serious concerns about the possibility of a World War III involving nuclear weapons.
While the West is considering providing Ukraine with long-range missiles to strike deep into Russia, Russia has warned that such action would escalate the conflict and could lead to a nuclear war that wouldn’t be limited to Europe. This heightened tension, coupled with the refusal of Russia and China to engage in arms control talks with the United States, has led to a situation where decades of arms control treaties are unraveling.
The Arms Control Association (ACA) has highlighted the precariousness of the global nuclear security environment, with Iran and North Korea continuing to advance their nuclear programs and China expanding its nuclear arsenal. Meanwhile, both the United States and Russia are actively modernizing their nuclear weapons, while the conflict in Gaza threatens to escalate into a regional catastrophe involving nuclear-armed Israel and Iran.
The International Atomic Agency (IAEA) Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi has warned that the global nonproliferation regime is under more pressure than it has been since the end of the Cold War. He emphasized the urgent need for a return to dialogue and diplomacy, especially considering the US presidential election campaign’s lack of engagement on these critical issues.
Dr. M.V. Ramana, Professor at the University of British Columbia, has stressed the increasing dangers posed by nuclear weapons, highlighting threats from government officials in Russia and Israel who have openly discussed or advocated for their use. He argues that only through a collective global movement demanding an end to the use of nuclear weapons can the world avert catastrophe.
Norman Solomon, Executive Director of the Institute for Public Accuracy, points out that the nuclear arms race is accelerating, driven by the continued development of nuclear weaponry by the US and Russia. He criticizes the hypocrisy of nuclear superpowers preaching nonproliferation while simultaneously expanding their own arsenals, which encourages other nations to pursue nuclear weapons.
Solomon also condemns the absence of meaningful arms control measures, pointing out that several treaties have been abandoned by the US government in recent years. He argues that this lack of restraint increases the likelihood of nuclear war with Russia and calls for a drastic change in attitudes and policies to avert disaster.
Jacqueline Cabasso, Executive Director of the Western States Legal Foundation, emphasizes the growing influence of nationalist authoritarian governments around the world, including those possessing nuclear weapons. She highlights the urgency of promoting dialogue and diplomacy to rebuild trust and prevent further escalation.
The US Conference of Mayors has passed a resolution calling for renewed diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine and for the reinstatement of high-level arms control talks between the US and Russia. The resolution underscores the critical importance of restoring trust and preventing the collapse of the remaining bilateral nuclear arms control treaties.
The escalating nuclear threats and the unraveling of arms control treaties present a grave danger to the entire world. Urgent action is required to de-escalate tensions, restore dialogue, and prevent the use of nuclear weapons, which could have catastrophic consequences for humanity.
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