By Gabriel Ani
WASHINGTON (chatnewstv.com) — The International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War is calling for immediate action by the United States and Russia after the expiration of the New START treaty left the world’s two largest nuclear powers without legally binding limits on their nuclear arsenals for the first time in more than five decades.
In a statement circulated this week, IPPNW warned that the lapse of the treaty marks the first time since 1971 that no formal constraints govern U.S. and Russian nuclear forces, a development the group described as a grave threat to global security.
“The U.S. and Russia possess roughly 90 percent of the world’s nuclear weapons, giving their decisions catastrophic global consequences,” the organization said. “No leader has the right to place humanity in such danger.”
IPPNW said a full-scale nuclear war between the two countries could kill an estimated 5 billion people worldwide.
The group, along with Physicians for Social Responsibility, its U.S. affiliate, joined more than 50 prominent individuals and organizations in a letter to members of Congress expressing disappointment that President Donald Trump, since beginning his second term, has not engaged Russia or China in talks on what he has described as “denuclearization.”
“Without new nuclear restraints, Russia and the United States could increase the size of their deployed arsenals,” the letter said, noting that New START capped each side at no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads. “This would mark the first increase in the sizes of their deployed nuclear arsenals in more than 35 years.”
According to independent estimates cited in the letter, Moscow and Washington could potentially double the number of deployed strategic warheads by adding more warheads to existing long-range missiles.
IPPNW warned that elements of the nuclear weapons establishment are lobbying for such an expansion.
“Many members of the nuclear-weapons establishment, some of whom would stand to benefit financially or who are funded by those who would, are lobbying for such a buildup,” the letter said.
The organization cautioned that any increase in U.S. and Russian nuclear forces could destabilize deterrence, accelerate China’s nuclear buildup and trigger an unconstrained three-way arms race.
“Contrary to hype, deploying additional U.S. nuclear weapons would not change President Xi Jinping’s or Vladimir Putin’s fundamental deterrence calculus in a future war,” the letter said.
The appeal was sent to House and Senate offices on Monday, according to IPPNW.
Looking ahead to the upcoming Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty review conference, IPPNW said the absence of dialogue among nuclear-armed states casts a “long and alarming shadow” over the future of arms control.
“In the lead-up to and during the Review Conference, IPPNW will continue to raise the alarm and call for immediate action,” said Molly McGinty, the group’s program director. “The work ahead will require all of us.”
