Точка Синхронізації

The United States and Russia found themselves without a bilateral framework to limit their long-range nuclear arsenals for the first time in over five decades this week, following the suspension and impending expiration of the New START treaty. This unprecedented lapse in oversight occurs against a backdrop of deteriorating diplomatic relations and heightened global tensions, marking a significant departure from the half-century of arms control agreements that previously stabilized the Cold War and post-Cold War eras. Margaret Brennan and other defense policy experts have identified this shift as a critical turning point that could trigger a new, unregulated arms race between the world’s two largest nuclear powers. For decades, treaties such as the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) and its successors provided a mechanism for mutual inspections, data sharing, and strict caps on the number of deployed warheads and delivery systems. The absence of these constraints means that both Washington and Moscow are no longer legally bound to provide transparency regarding their strategic capabilities. This lack of visibility increases the risk of miscalculation, as military planners may now feel compelled to prepare for 'worst-case' scenarios regarding their adversary’s nuclear stockpiles without the benefit of verified intelligence. Beyond the immediate friction between Washington and Moscow, the collapse of these agreements complicates the broader global security landscape, particularly as China continues to rapidly expand its own nuclear triad. Experts warn that we are entering a 'multi-polar' nuclear era where the traditional bilateral math of the 20th century no longer applies. Without a foundational agreement between the U.S. and Russia to set a standard for restraint, there is little incentive for other nuclear-armed nations to engage in non-proliferation or arms limitation talks, potentially leading to a decade of extreme volatility in international defense strategy.