Feb. 18 (UPI) -- The expiration of the New START treaty last week -- long the framework limiting the United States and Russia to 1,550 warheads in 700 launchers -- has renewed fears of an emerging nuclear arms race.
China's seemingly rapid program to develop a powerful nuclear strike force, the Trump administration's fixation on the Western Hemisphere and China and its extrication from Europe, European fears of a resurgent Russia, and Moscow's modernization of its nuclear arsenal are among the drivers of possible nuclear proliferation.
Britain and France are discussing a European deterrent to replace the diminishing of U.S. commitment. And Poland is talking seriously about developing its nuclear weapons program.
All this could spread to the Pacific. As China enlarges its nuclear weapons and the credibility of the U.S. defense commitment to the region is questioned, Australia, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan have the technical skills to develop nuclear weapons, as do other states.
The harder question is how to keep renewed nuclear proliferation from destabilizing the global security system -- and the answer may not be encouraging.
