The End of Nuclear Arms Control
Peter Zeihan
6 min
The end of US-Russia arms control guarantees a new era of massive global nuclear proliferation. This trend of country after country building nuclear weapons will last for at least the next 15 years.
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Boris Yeltsin
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Donald Trump
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Vladimir Putin
Chapters
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0:00
The End of Nuclear Arms Control
For the first time in decades, no active nuclear disarmament or arms control deal is in effect. Russia felt strategically inferior to the US and used treaties to buy time, but now feels betrayed.
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1:52
Impact of the Ukraine War
Russia is currently in a hot war and will not negotiate arms control until it feels secure.
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4:04
Global Nuclear Proliferation
Without US-Russia limits, other nations will rapidly build nuclear arsenals to ensure their own security.
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5:59
The Next 15 Years
A new era of massive nuclear proliferation will continue for at least the next 15 years.
Key points
- 0:00
No active nuclear disarmament or arms control deal is currently in effect.
- 0:00
Russia feels strategically inferior and previously used treaties to buy time against US superiority.
- 1:52
Russia has abrogated or cheated on every single nuclear or conventional treaty it ever signed.
- 1:52
Russia will not negotiate until it feels secure enough to win in Ukraine.
- 1:52
Trust between the US and Russia does not exist for invasive inspections.
- 4:04
Other nations will build nuclear forces to secure their own existence without bilateral limits.
- 4:04
China, Israel, Pakistan, India, and European nations will all expand arsenals rapidly.
- 5:59
A new era of massive proliferation will continue in country after country.
Who and where
People · 3
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Donald Trump 3
President of the United States (2017–2021; since 2025)
Photo 1
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Boris Yeltsin 1
Soviet and Russian politician, 1st President of Russia (1931–2007)
Photo 2
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Vladimir Putin 1
President of the Russian Federation
Photo 3
1. Photo: Daniel Torok, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons · Wikidata · redrawn in our house style (Donald Trump)
2. Photo: Presidential Press and Information Office, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons · Wikidata · redrawn in our house style (Boris Yeltsin)
3. Photo: Пресс-служба Президента России, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons · Wikidata · redrawn in our house style (Vladimir Putin)
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