Nuclear tension lingers; scheduled international discussion between Russia and the EU over START III at the upcoming summit
The world is bracing for a crucial meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, scheduled for August 15 in Alaska. The summit will discuss the issue of nuclear tension, a topic that has been a constant concern in international relations.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Riabkov has commented on the current state of affairs, stating that there is a tendency to act through pressure in Washington. He also emphasized that strategic tension is not decreasing and urged the US to abandon pressure as a means of conducting policy. Riabkov stressed that Russia takes measures to counter escalation steps.
The topic of strategic security was already addressed at the previous summit held by both leaders in June 2018 in Helsinki. This will not be the first time the leaders have met, as they previously held a summit in Helsinki in 2018.
The nuclear option is still valued as a possible reaction by some capitals, according to an unnamed individual. This concern is not isolated to the US and Russia, as other key players in the current nuclear race include China and India.
Russia and the US possess the largest inventories of nuclear warheads, far surpassing other countries. China has grown its nuclear stockpile significantly, adding about 100 warheads since 2024, representing 20% growth. India is the only other country besides China to have increased its nuclear arsenal recently.
China also leads the expansion of nuclear reactor capacity globally, signaling a dual emphasis on military capability and energy security. India continues to strengthen its deterrent capabilities, reflecting regional security challenges.
Many countries, including the US, are experiencing a nuclear energy revival, focusing on expanding clean and reliable nuclear power capacity, driven by energy security and climate goals. The US supports nuclear energy advancements via federal initiatives and private sector commitments, including new projects and modernization efforts.
However, the diplomat admitted that the risk of nuclear conflict remains. In light of this, political will is needed to reduce the temperature of heated international relations, according to Riabkov. Moscow lifted the moratorium on the INF treaty on the elimination of short and medium-range missiles, further escalating the tension.
The upcoming summit will also discuss the expiration of the START III disarmament treaty between the two powers, which is set to expire at the beginning of 2026. This treaty, which limits the number of nuclear warheads each country can possess, has been a cornerstone of nuclear arms control since its inception in 2010.
As the world awaits the outcome of the summit, the hope is that cooler heads will prevail and that the leaders will find a way to de-escalate the nuclear tension that has been building for years. Only time will tell if diplomacy will triumph over the threat of nuclear war.
References: 1. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 2. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) 3. World Nuclear Association 4. US Department of Energy 5. Nuclear Energy Institute
The ongoing political conversations and general news continue to center around the forthcoming meeting between Putin and Trump, with strategic security being a key topic of discussion, as previously seen in their 2018 summit. Amid the expanding nuclear race, Russia and the US are urged to urgently reduce strategic tension and nuclear tensions, as highlighted by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Riabkov. Other significant players in this nuclear race, such as China and India, are also of concern.
