Back to nuclear arms talks?

BEFORE the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, it was acknowledged that there were signs of major conflicts that could bring about “gray warfare” and nuclear proliferation on account of heightened superpower tensions.

It should be noted that the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty collapsed in 2002 while the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty expired this year. Left in place is the 2011 New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (Start) with the formal name “Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms.” With the United States and the Russian Federation as signatories, it is now the sole standing arms control pillar. It will expire in 2021 with a five-year extension system. Thus, the debates and preliminary conferences for the 2021 end or extension of Start are suspended because of the human health crisis.